Top-Seed Boll Weevils Edge Bison

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – After Oklahoma Baptist closed out the delayed second game over Arkansas-Monticello on Monday morning, the two squads battled back and forth in the game-three finale before UAM won in the bottom of the eleventh, 8-7.

OBU closed its season with a 32-20 record.

Game 2 Leaders

• Alex Schroeder went 3-for-5 with one homer.
• Gabe Irwin tied his career-high with three hits and drove in a career-best five RBI.
• Spencer Dickinson and Camron Grant each collected two hits while Isiah Lissade drove in four and added a homer.
• Nolan Feazle tossed four innings, allowed three earned runs and induced seven fly-ball outs.
• Logan Kimbro got the win by tossing the final five frames, allowing two runs and getting 10 flyouts.

Game 3 Leaders

• Schroeder hit two homers, finishing his career with 67.
• Grant added another long ball while Irwin produced two hits.
• Jayden Shafer added a hit and drew two walks, moving his season total to 54. That's No. 1 in the country.
• Cameron Pool was outstanding, fanning six batters, his second-highest total of his career. He also only allowed just one hit in 3.2 innings pitched.

What Went Right (GM 3)

• They competed. The loss will sting, but the Bison put themselves in good situations and executed numerous times in the game.
• Schroeder. The school's and conference's all-time home run leader came through in one of those situations in the third. On an 0-2 count, the senior rocked a shot to left center and tied the game, 3-3.
• Schroeder times two. After a two-out walk was issued to Shafer, OBU's designated hitter smoked a ball to left and gave the Bison the lead, 5-3, in the fifth.
• Rallying. In the top of the ninth, the Bison were down 7-6. Following a great at-bat from Jacob Campbell, OBU got an Irwin hit and another walk to load the bases. Shafer then helped tie things with a sacrifice fly to right.
• Coaching. Head Coach Chris Cox, Cody Painter and Trace Maddux deserve credit. Their Bison were put into position to win and nearly pulled it off over the top seed. They made the right pitching and situational decisions a few times.

What Went Wrong

• There were two major plays of significance. After the Bison went up 5-3, UAM came back to tie the game.
• In the bottom of the fifth with two away, the Weevils got a hit to center from Chaz Poppy. That knock scored UAM's fourth run and during the play, the Bison failed to throw to its cut-off player allowing Poppy to advance. In the next at-bat, Chase Cripps singled to left for the tying run.
• In the bottom of the eleventh, the Bison had two outs with the bases loaded. They got a grounder from a William Ellis pitch, but the throw from third to first sailed high and allowed UAM to walk it off.

On The Horizon

• Monday's results ended OBU's 2024 campaign. With a 32-20 record, it's the program's 41st straight winning season.