Bison Rally Past Wayland Baptist, 11-9

May 6, 2008

Oklahoma Baptist got a much-needed opening round win, rallying past Wayland Baptist 11-9 in the NAIA Region VI Tournament at Oklahoma City University's Jim Wade Stadium

Doug Hurn (7-2) got the win in relief, going 7.1 innings and allowing two runs after coming on in the second inning with OBU down at the time, 7-1.

"Doug did a great job in a tough situation and really stabilized things and worked out of a couple tough situations," said OBU coach Bobby Cox.

Hurn, who was projected as a starter, instead did a starter's job in the important first round game.

"You have to win the first game," Cox said. "The brought in their No. 2 guy - Stringer - and had Jeffress warming up in the eighth. That tells you right there the sense of urgency that comes in game one."

Wayland Baptist jumped out early with four runs in the first inning with three coming on a home run by Keith Martin.

OBU got one run back on a sacrifice fly by Keith Johnson in the second, but a two-run home run by Brett Cook sparked a three-run second to give WBU a 7-1 lead after two innings.

"I didn't think we got enough off of Gates in the first couple of innings," Cox said. "He wasn't as sharp as he has been and I felt like we let him off the hook."

The Bison rallied in the third with an RBI double by Mason Reilly and a two-run single by Frank Avilla, pulling to within 7-4.

Eddie Allen homered to give Wayland Baptist an 8-4 lead in the bottom of the third.

The Bison broke out with five runs in the fourth to take their first lead of the game.

Chris Chambers and Frank Avilla drew bases-loaded walks before Christian Ruiz whipped a three-run double for a 9-8 OBU lead.

Wayland scored in the fifth to tie the game, but OBU took an 11-9 lead in the sixth when Keith Johnson ended his 0-fer-Wayland with a two-run home run.

OBU had 12 hits, including two each by Billy Thomas, Josh Collazo, Reilly, Avilla and Ruiz.

With the win, OBU advances to Wednesday's 6 p.m. second round game against host OCU.