Bison Take Down Savage Storm in Friday Evening Thriller

SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Baptist baseball team took game one against Southeastern Oklahoma State 12-10. It was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to gain a decisive edge. There were five lead changes and three ties throughout the game with the Bison ultimately coming out on top.
 
The Savage Storm got off to a quick start, posting three-runs over the first two innings. OBU, however, was able to answer back in the bottom of the second off an Eric Carlson triple and Kade Self's first two-run home run of the game. This play tied up the contest at three apiece. Southeastern was able to regain a slight advantage in the top of the third, when Joseph Ramirez hit an RBI single to right field. Then in the bottom of the third, the Bison got their first lead of the when Walker Keller made it home on an error by the third baseman. Hector Ruvalcaba then blasted a two-run home run to cap off the third inning, giving the Bison a 6-4 lead.
 
After a quiet fourth and fifth inning, the Savage Storm was able to answer back with two runs in the sixth, knotting the game up at 6-6. This tie was short lived as Southeastern was able to pull ahead in the top of the seventh when they posted three more runs, which gave them a 9-6 advantage.
 
Things were looking bleak for the Bison after being shut down in both the bottom of sixth and seventh innings. OBU then found their rhythm in the bottom of the eighth and reclaimed the lead. Kevin Saenz got the pivotal inning started when he was walked on base. Self followed Saenz with his second two-run home run of the evening, cutting the deficit to 9-8. Cade Kissel was then hit by a pitch followed by a Cliff Pradd single which advanced all the runners. Southeastern pitcher Jacob Bigham then committed his final mistake of the game when he hit Keller. The Savage Storm coach had had enough and decided to put in Jacob Potter. This change at pitching made no difference as Kaimana Bartolome singled to right field, sending Kissel home. Pradd was then able to make it home on the same play off an error by the right fielder, which officially gave OBU the lead back. Ruvalcaba and Carlson then closed out the eighth inning barrage with back-to-back RBI singles, giving the Bison a 12-9 advantage.
 
Southeastern was able to find a spark in the top of the ninth posting a sacrifice bunt to cut the lead down to two, but some excellent pitching by Brett Biggs put the Savage Storm away and gave OBU its 13^th win of the season.
 
Biggs earned his fourth win of the season having pitched 2.2 innings, allowing only one run on two hits, striking out three batters.
 
The Bison will look to claim the series against the Savage Storm with an afternoon double header on Saturday, April 3. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.