Bison Split with Reddies

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist split a doubleheader with Henderson State Friday, using a sterling performance by Zach Fowler in the second game.
 
OBU lost the first game 8-3 before Fowler twirled a three-hit shutout for a 6-0 win.
 
Fowler (2-0) struck out nine in seven innings in a battle with Bryant Haralson. Fowler entered the game as the Great American Conference earned run average leader with Haralson in second.
 
Haralson was dominant for two innings, but the Bison reached him for five runs in the third inning. Brett Berghammer put OBU on the scoreboard with a two-run double, Juan Gonzalez added an RBI double, Zane Gelphman produced with a sacrifice fly and Josh Timms singled in a run.
 
The Bison picked up the final run in the fourth on an RBI single by Kevin Olmeda.
 
OBU put together eight hits, led by Olmeda with two. Dustyn Cook also had a double in the game.
 
The Bison lost the opener despite getting 10 hits and four HSU errors.
 
After falling behind 1-0, the Bison tied the game in the second when Joe Moran doubled and later scored on a double play.
 
HSU scored the next seven runs before OBU tacked on two in the ninth on an RBI single by Gelphman and an RBI double by Moran.
 
Berghammer, Timms and Moran had two hits each for the Bison.
 
OBU avoided further damage by two run-saving diving stops by first baseman Bob English, who, both times, was able to get to his feet and force a runner out at home.
 
Jinny Parra (3-1) took his first loss of the season. Tyler Gibson and Blake Whitehead combined for 3.2 innings of shutout relief.
 
Now 8-3 overall and 4-1 in the Great American Conference, the Bison finish off their HSU series with a 1 p.m. game at Bison Field Saturday.