Bison Dominate Reddies on Senior Day

SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Baptist baseball team swept the Saturday afternoon doubleheader against Henderson State, claiming the series in a poignant celebration of senior day. After falling in extra innings to the Reddies on Friday, the Bison bounced back. They claimed both games of the doubleheader, 18-13 and 9-1, giving OBU its eighth Great American Conference series of the season. 

Senior day was extra special due to the series win against the Reddies. Seniors Colin Prince, Kaimana Bartolome, Eric Carlson, Cliff Pradd, Hector Ruvalcaba, Ramon Enriquez, and Raul Rizo all had a hand in today's victory. Other seniors celebrated today were Caleb Bly, Jesus Chavez, and Jake Lipetzky. 

In a game of miscues and errors, the Bison offense shone as they claimed the 18-13 victory in the first game. OBU posted an incredible 23 hits and 16 RBIs in game one. Bartolome led the way with four RBIs, five hits, and one home run on five at bats. 

The Bison offense erupted out of the gate as they posted three runs in the bottom of the first. The first run came on Bartolome's first RBI of the game as he sent Pradd home with a single. Enriquez and Carlson added to the first inning total with an RBI double and single respectively. In the top of the second, Henderson State took the lead back on three Bison miscues. These errors did not phase the Bison in the slightest though, as they answered in the bottom of the second, taking a brief 5-4 lead. The Reddies snatched the lead right back in the top of the third with three runs on three hits. HSU proceeded to stretch its lead to 8-5 with a home run in the top of the fourth. 

Unfortunately, for the Reddies the Bison were prepared with a quick answer in the bottom of the fourth. Bartolome started the five-run tear with an RBI double to center field. Enriquez batted in Bartolome with an RBI single. Carlson immediately followed Enriquez's RBI single with a two RBI double into left field which sent Ruvalcaba and Enriquez home. Chris Cook capped off the inning with a RBI single, which sent Carlson home. 

The Reddies posted a mini rally in the top of the sixth and cut the Bison lead to one (11-10) but the rally was short-lived as OBU went on another offensive barrage in the bottom of the seventh to take a 17-10 lead. Both teams posted one final run in the bottom of the eighth and top of the ninth respectively. 

In game two, Bison pitcher Brek Galbreath locked down the Reddies offense, only allowing one run in the top of the first. He played a complete game and struck out seven Reddie batters. 

The Bison offense didn't miss a beat as seven of the team's nine runs came off the bats of Carlson, Cade Kissel, Kevin Saenz, Walker Keller, and Enriquez, all of whom recorded home runs. Saenz and Enriquez both posted two-run home runs with the other three posting solo home runs. The last two of the nine runs came off a Ruvalcaba single and Prince sacrifice fly.

This series concluded the regular season for the Bison as they finished in third place with a conference record of 22-11. OBU will now welcome Harding to Shawnee for a quarterfinal matchup on Friday, May 14, with the first pitch time yet to be determined.