BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (4-3-10) — The Eagles offense opened up Saturday afternoon at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium, and swept the Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College Saints in a doubleheader. OKWU beat the Saints in game one, 12-2, followed by a game two victory, 10-4.
Junior Chris Needham picked up the complete game victory in the first game, pitching six innings, giving up eight hits that included two doubles, and he struck out six batters as well.
The Eagles on the offensive side of the afternoon scattered 24 hits in the two games. With the wind blowing out, the Eagles power also came alive as JD Nalder hit a shot in the first game, and Jake Planich, Jake Palese and Riley Murr each hit home runs in the second contest.
Senior Chris Sexton also had a great day at the plate, hitting two doubles and a triple in the first game, finishing three-for-four. Sexton also added a hit and a walk in the bottom half of the twin bill.
In the second contest, the Saints were hanging in the game with the Eagles until the sixth inning when the freshman, Murr, at native Collinsville, OK, drop a two-run shot over the right center field wall.
Despite a rough outing, Chad Scheilz picked up the victory in the second contest. Reliever TL Murdock entered the game to begin the top and sixth inning, pitching two scoreless innings.
The Eagles, now 13-21 on the season, have a busy week ahead of them. On Monday, OKWU will travel to Moore to face the Saints again in a make-up game of a rainout this past Friday. Then the Eagles will try to avenge an earlier loss to Rogers State on Tuesday, followed by four conference games at Peru State College (Neb.).
Jake Planich rounds third following a home run in the third inning of game two.