SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Oklahoma Baptist baseball team came out strong in its rematch against top-seeded Augustana in the championship final of NCAA Central Regional I. Unfortunately for the Bison, the stellar pitching of the Vikings was just a little too much to overcome, with OBU being edged out in the regional championship game, 8-6.
Augustana came out strong in the first scoring on an RBI single. OBU answered in the top of the second with
Brock Carter and
Ramon Enriquez scoring on a double from
Brett Bloomfield, giving the Bison a brief 2-1 advantage. However, in the bottom of the second, Augustana was quick to score themselves, retaking the lead.
Viking pitching was able to keep the OBU offense quiet for much of the contest, only allowing one run in the top of the sixth on a
Joey Pledger RBI single.
In the top of the ninth OBU put up three final runs in hopes to rally from the 8-3 deficit.
Jake Gozzo blasted a two-run home run to left field batting in
Garrett McKee.
Kaimana Bartolome then batted in Enriquez off a single. The OBU rally would ultimately came up just short.
In just its second year of NCAA Division II postseason eligibility, OBU's strong outing in the regional tournament, advancing to the championship round, marked a new program best in the DII era. Coaches praised the team's resiliency and effort in battling in each and every game in a very strong regional.
For complete coverage of the Bison baseball program all year long, follow them on Twitter (
@OBU_Baseball).
