OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. –
DYLAN WATTS batted .500 and hit his fourth home run of the year, and
CAMERON STANTON pitched an eight-inning gem, but St. Edward's Baseball was unable to keep Oklahoma Christian from sweeping Saturday's doubleheader.
With the two losses, the Hilltoppers open Heartland Conference play with a record of 0-2 while standing 16-7 overall. The Eagles improve to 10-8 and 2-0.
"Today is a statement of how strong our league has become," said head coach Rob Penders. "There are no weekends that can be taken for granted. Oklahoma Christian is a quality team that beat two of the better pitchers in the region today in
COLLIN SHERROD and
CAMERON STANTON. Hopefully we can salvage a game from this road trip tomorrow."
Game One: Oklahoma Christian 6, St. Edward's 1 The Eagles jumped out on St. Edward's early with three runs on six hits in the bottom of the first. A rash of fielding errors by the Hilltoppers in the third made it 5-0 in favor of the home team.
On offense,
JOSEPH OLSON tallied a one-out single in the first while Wes Harris and Watts strung together a pair of hits in the second. However, the visitors were unable to capitalize in either inning.
Oklahoma Christian used a leadoff triple in the fifth to add an insurance run.
The loss is Sherrod's first of the year, and his shortest outing as well. He finished the game with seven strikeouts in five innings of work, while surrendering six runs (four earned) on nine hits, and five fielding errors by the defense.
BRYCE DAVIS pitched the final inning and gave up no runs on one hit with a strikeout.
At the plate, St. Edward's finished with one run on four hits, and one Oklahoma Christian error. Watts went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Harris and Olson also tallied hits, and
NATE TURNER accounted for the RBI.
Game Two: Oklahoma Christian 2, St. Edward's 1 Hilltopper pitching and defense helped game two get off to a more favorable start for St. Edward's. Olson erased an Eagle single in the bottom of the first by gunning the runner down as he tried to steal second.
Oklahoma Christian used a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. However, Stanton worked a pop fly and a strikeout to get out of the inning with no further damage.
After a scoreless fifth, Watts put St. Edward's on the board with a solo home run of his own, tying the game at one. Stanton followed up in the bottom of the frame with a pair of timely strikeouts to keep the Eagles off the board.
However, in the bottom of the ninth, the home team clinched the sweep and series with a walk-off home run on the inning's first pitch.
Despite the team's loss, Stanton turned in a quality start. The senior went eight innings and gave up one run on seven hits, one walk, and struck out nine.
Watts went 1-for-3 with a home run. Turner finished the second game 2-for-4 at the plate.
Coach Penders and his team will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow at 12 p.m. Live stats will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.
