DURANT – Despite out-hitting the Savage Storm and watching as Southeastern Oklahoma State erred four times, Oklahoma Baptist couldn't hold off the hosts who rallied in the bottom of the ninth for a 15-13 victory.
With the result, OBU moved its record to 14-9 and 6-6 in the GAC.
Ultimately, the Bison's pitching fell short, allowing SE to tie its season-high in runs while walking seven batters.
Troy Shields started the contest with a preview of what was to come over the course of the three-hour, 2-minute game. He blasted his seventh homer of the year and gave the Bison a 3-0 advantage.
Big swings continued just a half inning later for the Savage Storm. The 3-0 deficit didn't hold long as Yanluis Ortiz connected with a two-run double while Antonio Crews provided a sacrifice fly. By the end of the first, SE led 5-3.
Alex Schroeder then knotted up the score at 5-all in the second with a two-run shot to right center. That blast pushed
Jayden Shafer across home as well.
After the early scrum, SE later held a 10-6 advantage before the Bison put a seven spot on the scoreboard.
In the top of the sixth, Shafer and
Spencer Dickinson provided singles which loaded the bases. Shields then connected with an RBI single before
Camron Grant went yard with a grand slam to right. That homer, his first, moved OBU in front 11-10.
Later,
Jacob Campbell and
Jaden Wiley scored to push the Bison's lead to 13-10.
With a three-run lead, Bison inserted reliever
Bryant Thornton into the game in the bottom of the sixth. The junior transfer got off to a great start, retiring all but one batter. The green and gold maintained their 13-10 lead in the process going to the bottom of the ninth.
Unfortunately, Southeastern rallied. With one out, Cory Bonstrom and Coby Grimsley were walked and hit-by-pitch, respectively. Two batters later, Damon Burroughs hit a walk-off grand slam to put SE in the winner's column.
Next weekend, OBU will venture to Arkansas-Monticello for a three-game series starting March 15 at 2 p.m. UAM is currently the second-place team in the league at 11-9 overall and 9-3 in the GAC.
