OKLAHOMA CITY -- A nine-run second inning by the No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City Stars was too much for the Mid-America Christian University Evangels to overcome in a 15-5 loss in the series opener Wednesday evening at Jim Wade Stadium on the OCU campus. 

After Jon Jon Lemos doubled home Shane Brinker to give the Evangels an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Stars busted out with a nine-run second inning. 

The big blows in the frame were a three-run home run by Dane Phillips and a two-run triple by Kale Gaden. 

Gaden then hit another RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth before OCU added two more tallies in the fifth.

The Evangels (3-14, 0-7 SAC) plated a run in the sixth and then struck for three in the seventh on a three-run homer by Lemos. 

But the Stars (17-4, 8-1 SAC) put it away with three runs in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double by starting pitcher Rich Hawkins and run-scoring singles from Miguel Beltran and Jonathan Sigado. 

Lemos finished 2-of-4 at the plate for the Evangels with three RBI. 

Phillips and Gaden each drove in four runs for the top-ranked Stars.  Hawkins pitched five innings, giving up the one run on three hits with four strikeouts to get the win. 

MACU and OCU will attempt to play the middle game of the three-game series tomorrow evening (Mar. 8) at 6 p.m. at OCU, weather permitting.