Comets Sweep Thursday Doubleheader Against El Paso

Game 1

Oklahoma City Comets — 4

El Paso Chihuahuas — 3

(7 innings)

Game 2

Oklahoma City Comets — 12

El Paso Chihuahuas — 5

(7 innings)

Thursday, May 1, 2025 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: The Oklahoma City Comets swept both games of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon against the El Paso Chihuahuas, winning the first game, 4-3, on a walk-off inside-the-park home run by Ryan Ward before outscoring El Paso, 12-5, in the second game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

El Paso grabbed the first lead of the day during a back-and-forth Game 1 before the Comets answered with two runs in the third inning on a two-out RBI single by James Outman followed by a RBI single by Hyeseong Kim. Later with El Paso leading, 3-2, Dalton Rushing entered the game for the Comets as a pinch-hitter and lined a RBI double into the right field corner to knot the score at 3-3 in the sixth inning. Then with two outs in the seventh inning, Ward sent a fly ball to the wall in left-center field and motored around the bases to score and complete a game-winning inside-the-park homer for the Comets.

In the second game, OKC built a 7-1 lead through three innings. After El Paso took the first lead, the Comets responded with four runs in the bottom of the first inning without a hit, scoring runs on a bases-loaded walk, balk and two sacrifice flies. Alex Freeland hit a two-run home run in the second inning and Esteury Ruiz added a RBI single in the third inning. With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, El Paso’s Bryce Johnson connected on a bases-clearing double to cut OKC’s lead to three runs. The Comets then added five runs in the eighth inning, including a two-run double by Austin Gauthier and a RBI single by Alex Freeland before the Chihuahuas scored a run in the sixth inning.

Of Note:

-The Comets played their second doubleheader of the season and second of 2025 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Oklahoma City improved to 4-0 in doubleheader games after also sweeping both games of an April 20 doubleheader against Tacoma.

-With Thursday’s sweep, Oklahoma City took a 2-1 lead in the six-game series against El Paso. The Comets have now won 10 of their last 12 games, including four of the last five games.

-Ryan Ward hit Oklahoma City’s first walk-off home run since Jahmai Jones’ solo homer April 2, 2023 for a 10-9 OKC win and secured the Comets’ third walk-off victory of the season…Ward’s homer was also OKC’s first inside-the-park home run since James Outman hit one Aug. 18, 2024 at Las Vegas.

-With his home run in Game 1, Ward tied the Oklahoma City Bricktown-era (since 1998) career home run record as he collected the 60th homer of his OKC career to tie Jason Hart (2002-03; 2006). He is now up to six home runs this season — tied for the team lead. Ward picked up a RBI in both games of the doubleheader to boost his career total to 219. He holds second place on OKC’s Bricktown-era career list and is 11 RBI away from tying the team record of 230 set by Jason Botts (2005-08).

-James Outman and Kody Hoese each led OKC with a combined three hits apiece across the doubleheader. Outman went 3-for-5 with two RBI, scored two runs, drew a walk and had a stolen base, while Hoese went 3-for-4 with a double, three walks and scored three runs. Outman has now hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games, batting .389 (21-for-54) with 11 RBI and 11 runs scored.

-In Game 2, Alex Freeland hit his third home run of the season in the second inning, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and scored two runs. He also drew a walk and scored a run in Game 1. He leads OKC with 38 hits and 28 RBI this season.

-With a home run in each game Thursday, the Comets have now homered in five straight games (8 HR) and have hit 33 home runs over the last 21 games.

-Hyeseong Kim and Dalton Rushing each hit safely in both games for the Comets with Rushing collecting a double in both games.

-Oklahoma City’s pitching staff recorded 12 strikeouts in Game 1, led by eight from starting pitcher Landon Knack who tied the season-high mark by a Comets pitcher. The dozen K’s were the most by OKC pitchers in a game since April 15 against Tacoma when they had 13 strikeouts and marked the fifth time overall this season OKC had 12 or more strikeouts in a game.

-In Game 2, the Comets and Chihuahuas combined for 17 walks over the seven-inning game.

Next Up: The Comets continue their series against the Chihuahuas at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Fireworks presented by OU Health are scheduled to follow the game. Single-game tickets for all 2025 Comets home games are available now, as well as group and season ticket packages. To purchase tickets, visit okccomets.com or call (405) 218-2182. Live radio coverage of each Comets game begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com and through the free iHeartRadio or MiLB First Pitch apps.