ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist had some timely plays from its offense and defense during a 6-4 comeback win over McKendree on Friday at the Henderson State Invitational. The Bison evened their early-season record to 2-2 with the result.
OBU was down 4-3 heading to the eighth before scoring three more times to prevail.
Before that though, the green and gold had a 2-0 lead through five frames.
Newcomer
Jayden Shafer continued his strong early-season start with a sacrifice fly to left in the second. That sequence plated
Alex Schroeder who broke the scoreless tie.
An inning later, OBU doubled its lead.
Gabe Irwin doubled to left center early before
Kade Self drove him home with a single to right center. That was a two-out RBI hit for the Shawnee native.
In the span of those five innings, starting pitcher
Brek Galbreath was outstanding. He allowed just two Bearcats to reach scoring position and retired the side in three of those innings. Galbreath ended up tossing six innings, fanned three, allowed a single run and induced 11 fly-ball outs.
Seventh-inning action, though, favored McKendree. After the Bison made a pitching change, the Bearcats scored three and took the lead, 4-3. There were three doubles in the seventh. Two of those from Chyran Cruse and Austin Francis helped tie the game. Then with two out, Noah Nelson singled to left field pushing McKendree in front.
Despite relinquishing the lead, OBU didn't falter down the stretch.
In the eighth,
Trey Furrey led off with a single to center before
Isiah Lissade delivered a game-tying, two-out single. That came in the fifth at-bat of the frame and Lissade's connection pushed Furrey home.
Then in the ninth, OBU went back in front for good.
Dan Pruitt started the inning with a walk and eventually reached third on two wild pitches. Schroeder followed with a shot to left, his third RBI of the season. OBU also got some insurance from Furrey who singled home Schroeder a bit later.
On the mound,
Nolan Feazle got the win. He tossed the last two innings, allowed three hits and induced four fly-ball outs. Twice did McKendree put runners in scoring position but Feazle and the Bison defense denied the Bearcats any extra runs.
