Bison Rally to Sweep Tigers

SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Baptist baseball team claimed its second series sweep of the season, taking down East Central in a game three shootout which included four Bison home runs. The Bison improved their win streak to four and are currently atop the Great American Conference standings.
 
OBU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first two innings. Kaimana Bartolome got the offense rolling when he hit a solo home run in the top of the first. Hector Ruvalcaba and Colin Prince followed Bartolome with two more in the bottom of the second. The Tigers tanswered back in the top of the fourth and fifth to take a 5-4 lead before Cliff Pradd then tied up the game at 5-5 when he hit OBU's fourth homer of the day.
 
The Bison and the Tigers traded runs over the course of the sixth and seventh innings with ECU carrying a narrow 7-6 lead into the pivotal eighth.
 
ECU was able to extend its lead to three after Colton Schaper-Kotter posted a two-run single to center field to give the Tigers a 9-6 advantage going into the bottom of the eighth.

Walker Keller got the Bison rally started when he singled to right field sending, Bartolome home, which cut the lead to 9-7. Chris Cook followed Keller's single with one of his own, batting in Keller and Ramon Enriquez to knot the game at 9-9. After a Tiger pitching change, Pradd posted a double to center field sending Ruvalcaba home. Kevin Saenz then joined in the fun when he doubled down the left field line which allowed Pradd and Cook to chalk up the final two runs, giving the Bison a 12-9 advantage.
 
The Tigers attempted a rally of their own when Britton Sperry rounded the diamond and cut the Bison lead to 12-10. OBU reliever Brett Biggs, was not fazed, however, and got the final out on the next batter sealing the Bison win.
 
A herd of Bison led the day for OBU with Pradd, Saenz, Cook, and Prince all posting multiple RBIs. Bartolome, Ruvalcaba, Prince, and Pradd all recorded a home run in the game with Bartolome bringing his season total to eight.
 
Biggs also earned his second win of the season, pitching 2.2 innings and striking out three batters.

The Bison will host Harding for a three-game GAC series at Bobby Cox Field at Ford Park beginning Friday, March 19, at 6 p.m.