SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (12-8) got some solid pitching from
Logan Kimbro and
Ryan Turbeville during Tuesday's two-game series with Central Oklahoma. The visiting Bronchos won the first game 5-2 before the green and gold were victorious in game two, 6-1.
GAME ONE
UCO displayed some solid defense as its pitching staff, comprised of seven throwers, and defense got eight strikeouts, five fly-ball outs and seven groundouts.
Before its defense came up with some big stops, UCO's offense got a pair of runs in the first. They scored on a throwing error before a sacrifice fly from Carson Carpenter doubled their advantage.
Then, from the second through fourth frames, the visitors quelled multiple chances for OBU.
In those innings, the Bison put seven runners on base but ended up scoring one run. That came in the second when
Troy Shields scored on a passed ball. After that, OBU had bases loaded a trio of times but could not score. Highlighted in that for Central Oklahoma was a 6-4-3 double play in the fourth which kept the score at 3-2 UCO.
Down the stretch, the Bronchos added two more runs. In the seventh, OBU missed a pop-up along the infield and a few batters later, Caden Robertson delivered a two-out RBI double to push the score to 4-2.
Robertson then tallied UCO's fifth run after a fielding error.
On the mound, Kimbro (1-2) took the tough-luck loss by tossing 6.2 innings with six strikeouts. Those marks tied his season-bests too. He also allowed just two earned runs.
GAME TWO
There were some big hits from Shields and
Camron Grant as the Bison led from start to finish in game two.
As for Turbeville's pitching performance, he went four innings, didn't allow a run, fanned three and induced five groundouts.
Early on, the Bison jumped ahead. Three of the first four batters in the second reached base. With that,
Isiah Lissade connected with a sacrifice fly to center and plated Grant.
After the Bison defense retired six of the next seven UCO batters, OBU doubled its lead in the fourth. That inning saw
Austin Gonzales score on a wild pitch.
UCO's Robertson did collect a two-out RBI triple in the fifth, however, that would be the only run the Bison staff of Turbeville,
William Ellis and
Jordan Brewer allowed.
The green and gold then put the game away in the fifth. In that home-half, OBU registered three runs all with two out. Shields drove in
Will Joseph before Grant doubled to right center and plated
Matt Marsic. Finally, Lissade brought home Grant with an infield single.
OBU's last run in the sixth came via a bases loaded walk to
Rafael Gutierrez.
Three different players recorded multiple hits for the Bison in the second contest: Lissade, Grant and Gonzales.
Next on the schedule for OBU is a three-game GAC series at Southeastern Oklahoma State on March 8-9.
