Bison Drop Doubleheader in Magnolia

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Oklahoma Baptist baseball team started strong in both games of Friday night's doubleheader, but Southern Arkansas proved a tough matchup. The Muleriders took game one, 7-6, and game two, 12-3.
 
In a back-and-forth game one, the Bison got off to a fast start when Kaimana Bartolome batted in Walker Keller on a double to left center field. Southern Arkansas answered back in the next inning with an RBI single of their own. The Bison took the lead back in the top of the second when Collin Prince doubled to center field, sending Kevin Saenz home. Bartolome added to the lead when he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third. This homer gave the Bison a 3-1 advantage before the Muleriders took back the lead in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring four unanswered runs.
 
After stalling out for three straight innings, the OBU found a rhythm in the top of the seventh when Hector Ruvalcaba singled to center field and sent Keller home. This single cut the Muleriders lead down to a 5-4 advantage. Keller put the Bison back in front in the top of the eighth, with a score of 6-5, when he smacked a double into left center field, sending Cade Kissel and Kase Warner home. 
 
Unfortunately for the Bison, Tucker Burton of Southern Arkansas hit a walk off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth which gave the Muleriders the win. 
 
In game two, OBU came out firing when Bartolome hit an RBI single up the middle, advancing Keller to second and sent Cliff Pradd home. Ruvalcaba followed Bartolome's RBI single with an RBI sacrifice fly batting in Keller, which gave the Bison an early 2-0 lead. Sadly for OBU, Southern Arkansas posted 13 unanswered runs and took game two 13-2.
 
Kaimana Bartolome was the Bison offensive leader of the day posting three hits, three RBIs, and a home run.