Oklahoma City opens its World Series play with
10-2 victory
OCU and Spring Arbor tie NAIA single-game record
LEWISTON, Idaho - No. 2 Oklahoma City University (56-10)
never trailed in its opening game and defeated No. 7 Spring
Arbor (Mich.) University (38-8), 10-2 at the 2008 AVISTA-NAIA
World Series from Harris Field. The two teams combined to turn
six double-plays, which ties a single-game NAIA record.
Oklahoma City, who is second in the country in runs scored per
game at over 10, knocked around Spring Hill starter Colin
O'Connell for seven runs in the fifth inning to blow the game
open. Already leading 2-0, the Stars chased O'Connell after an
RBI-double by Caleb Annesley. In wasn't all on O'Connell's
shoulders as his defense committed two errors which led to five
unearned tallies. When the dust cleared, OCU sent 11 batters to
the plate and totaled five hits including two doubles.
OCU starting hurler Tyler Kelsey cruised into the seventh as he
allowed three harmless singles, one each in the first, third and
sixth innings. Each of those base runners was wiped out on
double-plays.
Kelsey ran into a small bind in the seventh when Bradley Baker
doubled to left-center setting the table for the top hitter in
the country, Jim Baker. He took the first pitch he saw from
Kelsey and laced an RBI-single to left, which was his first hit
of the World Series - he was 0-for-5 before that hit.
Baker's singled chased Kelsey and brought in reliever Zac Coplon.
SAU made the score 9-2 after Jonathan Herbig drove in Bradley
Baker on a sacrifice fly. The Stars plated the game's final
tally off an RBI-double from David Dennis. Dennis just missed
his school record-breaking 28th home run in the sixth
frame as his towering fly was caught at the warning track.
Kelsey ran his perfect pitching record to 10-0 on the year. He
lasted 6.0 innings allowing two runs on six hits. He fanned two
Cougars while walking one. O'Connell took the loss giving up
nine runs, just three earned, on eight hits. He compiled five
strike-outs in the losing effort.
Each position player for the Stars posted at least one base hit.
Four players had two hits each led by the 2-for-4 performance
from Brent Weaver. He added three RBI and one run scored.
Spring Arbor was paced offensively by Lucas Rider who was
3-for-3. Jesse Bachman went 2-for-4 and scored one of the team's
runs.
This marks the 36th time that OCU has scored 10 or
more runs this season.
Oklahoma City stays in the winners bracket and plays defending
national champion Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) College (54-6) on
Monday, May 26 at 7 p.m. PST. Spring Arbor, who had its six-game
winning streak snapped, will face No. 4 Azusa Pacific (Calif.)
University (45-11) on Monday at 8:30 a.m.
