Published: March 24, 2008 11:18 pm         

Cardiac Jets pull out another 1-run win

Shortstop Stephen Garrett best summed up Northern Oklahoma College Enid’s latest thrilling finish on Monday night.

“It’s about normal,” said Garrett, who scored the game-winning run in the Jets 2-1 comeback victory over Connors State College at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

The Jets improved to 22-8 overall and 10-1 in one-run games with the win. NOC Enid scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to pull off its latest Houdini act.

“It’s huge to go all nine innings, then score two runs,” said Garrett, who went 1-for-4 in the game.

Garrett’s lone hit was a one-out single in the ninth, which followed Mike Williams’ single to left. Garrett’s hit moved Williams to third base, the first time a Jets’ baserunner occupied third base all night long against Connors State starter Shane Cameron.

Cameron was brilliant through 8 1/3 innings. The Cowboys’ hard-throwing right hander scattered five hits with six strikeouts and did not allow a walk.

Cameron’s seventh strikeout put him just one out away from a complete-game shutout.

Instead, NOC Enid’s Cody Creider belted Cameron’s 3-1 pitch down the left field line. Williams easily scored from third and Garrett came charging around third base.

Garrett slid into home plate, barely beating the relay throw.

“We’ve been in this spot so many times,” said Creider, who went 2-for-4. “We’ve had guys step up so many times. It was just my time.”

Creider and Williams were the only Jets with two hits. Creider’s game-winning hit also gave a much-deserved victory to NOC starting pitcher Matt Sparks.

Sparks scattered five hits in the complete-game win. He walked just two batters and used just 106 pitches in the outing.

“I had a good breaking ball,” said Sparks, who allowed just two hits and three base runners over the final six innings. “(Connors State) had a hard time picking it up. And I tried to mix in the fastball.”

Sparks was aided by his defense. The Jets did not commit an error and turned a pair of double plays to end the fourth and fifth innings.

NOC Enid, which has won nine of its last 11 games, opens Bi-State Conference play at 1 p.m. Thursday in a doubleheader at Failing Park against Murray State.