SHAWNEE – Jake Hamilton's game-three performance versus Arkansas-Monticello helped Oklahoma Baptist (14-10, 8-7 GAC) split a twin bill versus the Boll Weevils on Saturday at Bobby Cox Field at Ford Park. UAM won 9-4 in the opener before the Bison claimed the finale 3-1.
GAME ONE
The Weevils, like they did on Friday, had a massive inning which took the steam out of the Bison. In the second, UAM tallied seven hits on seven runs. Trouble started for OBU after a throwing error to home allowed two runs to come across. After that, Kirk Woolf, Chaz Poppy and Chase Cripps all drove in runs. Those hits made the score 7-0.
UAM's pitching then matched its offense with a standout effort by Mason Philley. Until the ninth, he allowed a single unearned run and struck out 15 batters with no walks.
The Bison were able to connect on several hits including doubles by
Jayden Shafer,
Jose Parga,
Isiah Lissade and a single by
Kade Self from the second through fifth frames. However, the green and gold tallied just a single run with those efforts and fell behind 9-1 after five.
Despite the game out of reach, Lissade and Parga did provide some excitement with run-scoring doubles and singles, respectively, in the ninth to get the final tally of 9-4.
GAME TWO
Hamilton commanded the fast ball well in the finale as the Bison won 3-1. For OBU's senior in two career appearances against UAM, he allowed just one run in 14.0 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts. A season ago, he tossed a complete-game shutout with six fanned batters during a 5-0 Bison win on the road.
After UAM put its first two batters aboard in the second, Hamilton went to work and got a strikeout and groundout to quell the threat.
In the next half-inning, OBU used that momentum to take a 1-0 lead on a homer from Self to right field.
The Weevils did tie the game in the third on a Woolf RBI double, but that would be it.
Over the next several frames, Hamilton and the Bison defense allowed just two UAM players to reach scoring position. Hamilton got a half-dozen ground-ball outs and five strikeouts.
With that, the Bison found their go-ahead runs.
Trey Furrey's two-out single to right center scored Self, moving the home squad back in front 2-1 in the fourth. Two frames later, the Bison got one more run.
Lissade rocked a triple to right center to start the sixth and in the next at-bat, Shafter drove him home with a single. That made the score 3-1.
Then in the seventh, Hamilton retired the side to close out the win.
