MONTICELLO, Ark. – Jake Hamilton's performance in the series finale helped Oklahoma Baptist (22-20, 15-15 GAC) split a doubleheader with Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday. The Weevils rallied for a 13-inning, 10-9 game-one win before the Bison blanked the hosts 5-0 in the finale.
GAME ONE
The Weevils got after OBU's relief pitching late to erase an 8-2 deficit before winning 10-9 in the thirteenth.
Well before the seventh and eighth frames, the green and gold put themselves in good position to even the series. Things started in the second for OBU.
A lead-off homer from
Alex Schroeder, his 19
th of the year, broke the scoreless tie. A few batters later,
Jose Parga's infield single and a UAM error allowed two more to score:
Kade Self and
Trey Furrey. OBU's fourth and fifth runs came courtesy of
Walker Keller who plated Parga and
Cade Kissel with a single to left.
Two innings passed before the Bison extended their lead to 7-1. Fourth-inning action brought a Self RBI double before
Dan Pruitt scored via passed ball.
Each team added a run in the next few innings before the host Weevils started their comeback in the seventh. Down 8-2, Nick Fakouri got Monticello's third run after he hit into a double play. UAM's next three batters recorded hits and pushed three more across to bring the tally to 8-6.
Then in the eighth, UAM scored three more times, all with two out, to take a 9-8 lead. The tying eighth run came after a wild pitch before a bases-loaded walk to Grant Jeffers gave the Weevils their first lead of the game.
Despite relinquishing the lead, OBU did tie the game in the ninth after Self scored on a UAM error by its second baseman.
During the four extra innings, the Bison had chances. In fact, they left seven on base, including bases loaded in the thirteenth. UAM took advantage of that in its home half. Cade Thompson's bases-juiced fielder's choice drove home Deshaun Cordova for the game's final run.
GAME TWO
Hamilton (1-2) was sensational for OBU in the final contest. He tossed his first complete game, fanned six and gave up just three hits. Plus, of the 25 batters he faced, only two reached scoring position.
With that pitching performance, the Bison found all the run support they needed in the second. Self and
Ramon Gomez each notched run-scoring hits to help OBU go up 2-0.
Two innings passed before the Bison scored three more. Schroeder starting the fourth with his 20
th homer of the season, tying Jake Gozzo for the most in a season in the D2 era.
Troy Shields then got in the action with a two-run double down the left field line scoring Furrey and Gomez.
Over the next four frames, Hamilton allowed just two hits while the OBU defense notched a few fly-ball outs and a double play to end the game.
Next on the schedule for the green and gold is a road date at Emporia State on April 26 at 4 p.m.
