Drovers Take the Series at SCU with a Double-Header Sweep

BETHANY, Okla. – Saturday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (24-14, 10-5 SAC) collected the series victory with a double-header sweep at Southwestern Christian University (24-13, 6-9 SAC). After losing Friday's contest 9-5, the Drovers responded with a 9-0 victory in Saturday's first game, followed by a thrilling 6-5 victory in the series finale.

With the pair of wins, the Drovers are now 29-3 all-time against the Eagles. 

Science & Arts has now won 11 of their last 13 games, and they have outscored opponents 155-56 during that span. Additionally, USAO has won each of their last four conference series' (MACU, TX WES, CCC, SCU).

The Drovers now sit in a tie for second place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings with a 10-5 conference record, alongside Oklahoma City University and Texas Wesleyan University. MACU is currently the top team in the standings, but the Drovers hold the tiebreaker over the Evangels due to USAO winning the head-to-head series earlier this season. Science & Arts also holds the tiebreaker over Texas Wesleyan, and they have yet to play OCU.

-GAME 1-

The Drovers quickly and emphatically took an early lead on Gabriel Arroyo's solo-homerun in the top of the first inning. USAO extended the lead to 6-0 with a five-run outburst in the top of the second. 

The score remained 6-0 until the top of the seventh when Science & Arts scored their final three insurance runs before Drew Shaver slammed the door shut on SCU in the bottom of the seventh.

Shaver was sensational as earned his second win of the season (2-0), delivering a complete-game shutout. He struck out seven batters and only surrendered three hits.

As a team, the Drovers compiled a dozen hits, coming from eight different players. Gunnar Hansen led the way, going 3-4 with a triple, and two runs scored. 

Nick Fleckenstein added a pair of hits as he finished 2-5 with a run scored and a run batted in. Antonio Hrynkiw also added a pair of hits as he went 2-4 with a run batted in.

Gabriel Arroyo concluded 1-5 with his second homer of the season. Ryan Duncan went 1-1 with a walk, two runs scored, and a run batted in.

Gunnar Wicklund delivered a clutch RBI-double in his only at bat of the game. Ben Lawson went 1-3 with a run scored, while Peyton McDowall went 1-3 with a run batted in.

-GAME 2-

After three scoreless innings, the Drovers took the first lead of the game as they scored a trio of runs in the top of the fourth inning.

SCU cut into the lead with one run in the bottom of the fourth, but USAO quickly answered with one more run of their own in the top of the fifth. 

Science & Arts extended the lead to 5-1 with another run in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score at 5-5. 

The Drovers scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh as Gabriel Arroyo scored on a wild pitch. Alden Norquist shut down SCU in the bottom of the seventh to close out the victory.

Reed Butz delivered a very respectable performance on the mound and only allowed one run through five innings. Butz concluded with five strikeouts and surrendered five runs on six hits in 5.1 innings of work. 

Norquist earned the win as he delivered 1.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

The Drovers produced seven hits in the win, coming from five different players. Christopher Martinez and Ben Lawson each contributed a pair of hits to lead the way. Martinez went 2-4 with a run scored, while Lawson went 2-3 with a pair of doubles and a run scored. 

Peyton McDowall finished 1-3 with a triple, a run scored, and two runs batted in. Gabriel Arroyo concluded 1-2 with a pair of runs scored and a RBI.

Gavin Machado went 1-3 with a run batted in. Gage Gaunt scored one and drove in a run.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action on Wednesday, April 12 as the play a non-conference game against No. 2 ranked LSU-Shreveport in Dallas, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM CT. 

Stay up to date on all Science & Arts Athletics news by following us on our media platforms!

Athletics Website: www.usaoathletics.com

Live-stream: www.sacsportsnetwork.com/usao

YouTube: Drover Athletics

Twitter: @DroverAthletics

Facebook: @DroverAthletics

Instagram: @drover_athletics

GIPHY: www.giphy.com/USAODrovers