Shawnee, Okla. -- Oklahoma Baptist hurler Steven Messner struck out 14 in leading the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison to an 8-1 win over the Mid-America Christian University Evangels in the first game of a three-game series Thursday evening (Mar. 1) in Shawnee, Okla. 

The game was scoreless as MACU starter Colby Crawford held the Bison scoreless for 2 2/3 innings before Yael Colon doubled with two out and then scored on a wild throw by Luis Martinez. 

OBU (15-2, 1-0 SAC) then picked up two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run triple by Michael Sliger. 

In the next frame, the Bison broke the game open with four more tallies on the strength of a two-run double by Daniel Howell. 

Martinez doubled home Taylor Daniels in the top of the eighth for the Evangels' lone run. 

Crawford lasted six innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out three. 

Messner held the Evangels (3-9, 0-4 SAC) scoreless over his seven innings of work on only one hit. 

Sliger, Howell and Michael Cerda each drove in two runs to power the Bison. 

The two schools will play the middle game of the series tomorrow afternoon (Mar. 2) at 2 p.m. at James Curtis Field on the MACU campus.