SHAWNEE -- The bats were loud and relentless Tuesday as Oklahoma Baptist outslugged Central Oklahoma 12-10 in a back-and-forth contest at Bobby Cox Field at Ford Park.
OBU (4-5) pounded out 11 hits, including three home runs, and answered every UCO surge to secure the win. The Bison struck first in the second inning when
Lucas Schaefer and
Keenan Morris opened the frame with singles.
Jaxon McAuliff delivered an RBI single, and later Morris scored to push the lead to 2-0.
The advantage grew in the fourth when
Kaleb Latimer launched a three-run homer down the left-field line, pushing the lead to 5-0. That was his first bomb of the season. Central Oklahoma (7-3) roared back in the fifth with four runs, capitalizing on walks and a pair of timely hits to cut the margin to 5-4.
OBU responded immediately in the bottom half. After a pair of free passes, Schaefer crushed a three-run shot to left-center, extending the lead to 8-4. The Bronchos again rallied, plating three in the sixth, moving the scoreboard to 8-7, OBU. Â
The decisive blow came in the home half of the sixth when
Quinn Johnson hammered a three-run homer to left-center, part of his 2-for-5, three-RBI day. Johnson later doubled and scored in the eighth, and
Matt Marsic added an RBI single to provide valuable insurance.
Davin Ronquist (1-1) earned the win in relief, while
Logan Wade recorded his second save by striking out two in a perfect ninth. Central Oklahoma's Chase Yarger (1-1) took the loss.
Noah Smallwood led UCO with three hits and three RBI, while Colton Ayres drove in three. In a game featuring 22 total runs and five combined home runs, OBU made the final swings count.
The Bison are back on the road this coming weekend for a three-game GAC series against Arkansas-Monticello.
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