SHAWNEE – Alex Schroeder hit a walk-off grand slam while
Ryan Turbeville was superb on the mound during Oklahoma Baptist's 13-1 win over Southern Nazarene on Sunday at Bobby Cox Field at Ford Park.
OBU improved to 31-18 and will enter next week's Great American Conference Tournament with a road trip to Arkansas-Monticello beginning May 3.
Of note, the team's 31 regular-season wins are its most since the 2017 squad generated 32 during its D2-transitional season. Plus, the team's 23 home wins are its most since the 2016 squad totaled 24.
Key Leaders
- Will Joseph went 3-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 25 straight games.
- Jayden Shafer collected two hits, three RBI and was walked twice. He currently has 50 walks this season, tied for the NCAA lead.
- Schroeder produced two hits and five runs driven in while Troy Shields also connected with two hits, including a homer, and drove in two.
- Turbeville tossed six innings, tied his season high with seven strikeouts and did not allow a run.
What Went Right
- Turbeville. The junior lefty had great fastball command and mixed in with a few sliders, thwarted SNU's offense over 6.0 innings pitched. In his last two appearances spanning 12 frames, he has allowed just one run.
- Jumping ahead. For the fourth time this week, the Bison grabbed an early lead. They scored seven times in the first including two-run singles by Camron Grant and Shafer.
- A fitting and poetic end in Shawnee. Schroeder, the school's and the GAC's all-time home run leader (63), went first pitch swinging in the seventh and sent a shot to left center. It carried out of the park and scored Brandon Brewer, Isiah Lissade, Shafer and OBU's senior. In addition to that blast being his 19th of the year, Schroeder has 81 RBI, the No. 1 total in Division II.
What Went Wrong
- After a double to deep center from Colby Entwistle in the seventh, a throwing error during the sequence allowed SNU's shortstop to score the Storm's only run.
On the Horizon
- On Friday, May 3 at 3 p.m. the Bison, the eighth seed, will face off with GAC Regular Season Champion and top seed Arkansas-Monticello. During the regular season, UAM won two of three over OBU on March 17-18.
