SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist ended its three-game league series against Southwestern Oklahoma State with a 10-2 triumph at Bobby Cox Field on Saturday night.
Thanks to a couple lightning delays which spanned two hours and 16 minutes, the game lasted four hours and 29 minutes.
With the win, OBU improved to 24-14 overall and 13-11 in the Great American Conference. Three conference weekends remain and at the moment, the Bison are in a tie for sixth.
Key Leaders
- Will Joseph collected a game-high three hits.
- Troy Shields went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer.
- Jayden Shafer posted a 2-for-3 line with one RBI.
- Alex Schroeder notched a homer and drove in two. His homer was his 58th of his career, tying the GAC's all-time record held by former Southern Arkansas player Brett McGee.
- Ryan Turbeville tossed three frames, didn't allow a run and got five groundouts.
What Went Right
- Pitching. All three Bison pitchers – Bryant Thornton, Turbeville and Jake Wellington – were very good in the finale. The trio struck out six and got 14 combined fly-ball outs and groundouts.
- Shields' blast. In the fourth, the junior rocked a shot to left center and turned a slim, 3-2 advantage into a 6-2 lead.
- Responding after the delay. The first lightning interruption lasted one hour and 46 minutes. In the sixth, Turbeville and company came out and retired three of four to bring the Bison offense up. Schroeder started the sixth with a solo bomb before Joseph tripled down the right-field line. That extra-base knock scored Shields before Spencer Dickinson brought home Joseph with a groundout.
- Turbeville. Over his last three appearances spanning 6.2 frames he has not allowed an earned run and fanned seven. He also has two wins.
- Joseph. The centerfielder is on a 16-game hitting streak after his performance in the finale. Nine of those games have brought multiple knocks too.
- Speaking of offense. Everyone Bison in the lineup got a hit, totaling 15. It's the 21st time this season OBU has recorded at least 10 hits.
- No errors. After a four-miscue performance earlier in the day, OBU bounced back in a big way. Lissade had four putouts with three assists while Jacob Campbell had three assists. Plus, Shafer and Shields each recorded six putouts.
What Went Wrong
- Very little. In the first, Jackson Syring's RBI double to left center gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
On The Horizon
- OBU will head to (RV) Pittsburg State on April 10 for a 3 p.m. non-conference matchup. In two previous games this season with the Gorillas, the Bison have won both and outscored PSU 29-14.
