Drovers Rally Late to Split the Double Header at #19 MACU

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Friday evening, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (19-21, 13-13 SAC) split a double header on the road against No. 19 ranked Mid-America Christian University (32-11, 19-7 SAC). The Drovers dropped the series opener 3-1, followed by a 4-3 triumph in game two.

In total, the Drovers improve to 53-21 against the Evangels in head-to-head matchups since 2005. Furthermore, USAO has won 42 of the last 52 meetings between the rivals.

The Drovers are heating up at the right time of the year, having won 10 of their last 14 games, and they have outscored opponents 163-71 in that span.

With one game remaining in conference play, USAO sits in a tie for fifth in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings. The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the SAC Tournament, with the top four seeds hosting the first-round, best of three series. The winners of the first-round series will travel to Joplin, Mo. for the final site.

GAME 1

The Evangels wasted little time to claim the lead, scoring once in the bottom of the first, followed by their final two runs in the second.

USAO's only run came in the top of the seventh as Anthony Hampton launched his fifth homer of the season, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.

Tyson Noel got the start on the mound for the Drovers and continued his streak of impressive performances, despite suffering the loss. Noel pitched all 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, and he struck out six batters.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced four hits and reached on four walks, while the Evangels tallied six hits and drew three walks. Both teams were unblemished defensively.

Anthony Hampton concluded 1-3 with a solo-home run, and Henry Garcia went 1-1 with a double and a pair of walks. Corey Morro went 1-2 with a walk and Brandon Latter finished 1-3.

GAME 2

The second game began with two scoreless innings, prior to the Evangels scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.

MACU maintained a two-run lead until the top of the sixth, when the Drovers pulled the score even on Henry Garcia's two-run home run, his 12^th longball of the season.

However, the Evangels quickly reclaimed the lead with a two-out, solo-homer in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, trailing by one, Anthony Hampton launched a two-run home run to give USAO a 4-3.

Layton Bryan slammed the door on the Evangels in the bottom of the seventh to close out the win.

Brian Ereu got the start on the mound for the Drovers and went 6.0 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits, and he struck out eight.

Layton Bryan entered for the bottom of the seventh and earned his second save of the season.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced nine hits and reached on zero walks, while the Evangels tallied five hits and drew zero walks. USAO committed one fielding error, while MACU was unblemished defensively.

USAO's offense was led by Henry Garcia and Anthony Hampton's powerful performances. Garcia finished 2-4 with a double and his 12^th homer of the season, in addition to a pair of runs batted in. Hampton concluded 1-3 with a pair of RBIs and his sixth homer of the season.

Connor Martin went 3-4 with a run scored, while Solomon Harwood, Duncan Key, and Gave Clyden each singled once.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Evangels will conclude the series on Saturday (April 18) at 2:00 PM CT in Oklahoma City.

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