After producing just one hit in the opening game of its Heartland Conference series-opening, baseball doubleheader against Oklahoma Christian on Thursday night, UAFS finally got its bats to come alive.

Trailing 2-0, the Lions scored six runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth to rally back and beat the Eagles 8-3 at Dobson Field in Oklahoma City.

UAFS (20-16, 7-7) settled for a split in the series-opening doubleheader after losing 1-0 in the opening game that was interrupted by a 70-minute rain delay in the middle of the fourth inning. The Lions will play for their fourth conference series win in a row at 1 p.m. on Friday.

It was sort of déjà vu for UAFS in the opening game.

The Lions lost their opening game to the Eagles 1-0 in the first game of what was to be a three-game, nonconference series at Crowder Field on March 8 with the Eagles scoring the only run in the top of the seventh inning.

Lions ace Javon Rigsby again suffered the hard-luck, complete-game loss in the opening game on Thursday. The senior right-hander (4-5) allowed only one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Rigsby gave up a leadoff double to second baseman Kevin Collyar to start the bottom of the seventh inning. A sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Austin McCain moved Collyar to third base, and shortstop Grant Lake then slapped a single through the right side to drive in Collyar for the game-winning run.

Lake was 2 for 3 with one RBI, Collyar was 1 for 3, right fielder Black Empkey was 1 for 2 and center fielder Hunter Markwardt was 1 for 3.

Eagles ace Gabe Rodery (7-1) again earned the complete-game win, allowing no runs on one hit with two walks and 12 strikeouts. Lions first baseman Kyle Love had the UAFS' only hit, going 1 for 3.

Behind 2-0 after six complete innings in the second game, UAFS scored six runs on just three hits to seize the lead for good. Second baseman Logan Easley tied the game with a two-out, two-run single off Eagles starter Robbie Suhr, and two batters later, centerfielder Travis Young gave the Lions the lead with a two-out, two-run single off Eagles reliever Chase Berberich.

Two batters later, designated hitter Trent Powell drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk from Eagles reliever Hayden Barber to give the Lions a three-run lead and Young scored on a wild pitch from Barber to give the Lions a four-run lead.

Oklahoma Christian (27-13, 9-5) added a single run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but UAFS added two more runs in the top of the eighth inning. Shortstop Brandan Warner drew a walk from Eagles reliever Connor Litterell, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Right fielder Logan Allen, who drew a one-out walk, scored on a RBI single by Easley to give the Lions a five-run lead.

UAFS collected nine hits in all off three of the five Oklahoma Christian pitchers. Easley was 2 for 5 with three RBIs, Young was 1 for 5 with two RBIs, Warner was 2 for 3 and Allen was 2 for 3 with a doubles.

Suhr (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing four runs – all earned – on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

Oklahoma Christian had eight hits off two UAFS pitchers. Collyar was 3 for 4 with a double, Empkey was 2 for 4 with a double, Markwardt was 1 for 4 with a double, first baseman Alex Garcia was 1 for 4 with one RBI and left fielder Julien Ly was 1 for 1 with one RBI.

Lions reliever-turned-starter Korbin Polly (2-0) won his second game in a row and second in three starts this season. The senior right-hander, who was this week's Conference Pitcher of the Week, allowed three runs – two earned – on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts over six-plus innings.

UAFS reliever Foster Pace earned his second save, allowing no runs on two hits with five strikeouts over three innings of relief.
 
 
GAME ONE
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN 1, UAFS 0
UAFS                          000      000      0          --          0          1          0
Oklahoma Christian    000      000      1          --          1          5          1
Rigsby and Hurt; Rodery and Crockett. W – Rodery, 7-1. L – Rigsby, 4-5. HRs – None
 
GAME TWO
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
UAFS 8, OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN 3
UAFS                          000      000      620      --          8          9          1
Oklahoma Christian    000      101      100      --          3          8          1
Polly, Pace (7) and Hurt; Suhr, Berberich (7), Barber (7), Litterell (7), Basler (9) and Crockett. W – Polly, 2-0. L – Suhr, 0-4. Sv – Pace (2). HRs – None.