Drovers Conclude Regular Season with Road-Win at Oklahoma Baptist

SHAWNEE, Okla. – Tuesday evening, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (20-22, 13-14 SAC) closed out the regular season with a thrilling 7-6 victory on the road at Oklahoma Baptist University (19-24, 12-18 GAC). This is the first time that the former SAC rivals have faced each other since 2017, and OBU holds a 25-8 advantage in the series that dates to 2007.

The first inning was an eventful one, with the Drovers scoring a trio of runs in the top of the first, prior to a pair of runs for the Bison in the bottom half of the inning.

USAO stretched the lead to 5-2 in the top of the third as Anthony Hampton drove in a pair. OBU pulled back within one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fourth, the Drovers added two more insurance runs on a single from Luke Fox. OBU scored once in the seventh and once in the ninth, but it was not enough to overcome USAO's lead.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced six hits and reached on nine walks, while the Bison tallied five hits and drew 11 walks. USAO committed two fielding errors, while OBU had one defensive miscue.

Jake Finkelstein got the start on the mound for the Drovers and pitched the first inning prior to handing the ball to Jake Wellington for a scoreless second inning. Julian Pokorny pitched the third, before AJ Scifres and Tristan Perry each struck out two batters in one inning of work. Jaxon McDonald fanned a pair in a scoreless sixth inning, Chris Ottinger pitched the seventh before Layton Bryan worked a scoreless eighth. Naton Herchock pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Gabe Clyden, Luke Fox, and Anthony Hampton each drove in two runs. Henry Garcia went 2-4 with a walk and a run scored. Solomon Harwood doubled and scored once. Connor Martin, Duncan Key, Corey Morro, and Alfonso Camacho each scored once.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers now head into the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament as the No. 7 seed and will travel to No. 2 MACU for a best-of-three series next weekend (April 24-25) in Oklahoma City. The winner of the series will advance to the tournament's final site at Joe Becker Ballpark in Joplin, Mo., beginning May 1.

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