SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist had a day for the ages on offense as it won 27-14 and 15-3 over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday at Bobby Cox Field. OBU got a much-needed Great American Conference series win and improved to 7-9 overall and 3-6 in the GAC.
GAME ONE
The offensive fireworks were on full display Friday afternoon as the Bison outslugged Southwestern, 27-14, in a seven-inning shootout.
SWOSU (11-8) struck first with a five-run opening frame, highlighted by Nolan McCrossin's grand slam to left. The Bulldogs added four more in the second, including a two-run homer from Kotaro Wakui, to build a 9-1 cushion.
But OBU answered emphatically in the bottom half of the second. The Bison erupted for 10 runs on eight hits, batting around and capitalizing on timely extra-base knocks from
Keenan Morris,
Matt Marsic and
Kaleb Latimer.
Zane Bennett's two-run single ignited the rally, while
Lucas Schaefer's two-run single to center gave OBU its first lead at 10-9.
From there, the Bison offense never slowed. OBU plated two in the third, six in the fourth and five more in the sixth, finishing with 24 hits. Marsic led the way with a 5-for-5 day, driving in four runs, while Latimer went 4-for-5 with six RBI, including a two-run homer in the sixth. Morris added four hits and two RBI, and Bennett chipped in three hits and three runs batted in.
Southwestern continued to battle, tallying 14 hits of its own, but OBU reliever
Teagon Standlee (1-1) steadied things after a rocky start, earning the win. The 41 combined runs marked one of the wildest offensive contests of the season for both clubs.
GAME TWO
After Southwestern (11-9) struck first in the opening inning on an RBI double from Landon Meyer, the Bison (7-9) answered immediately and then blew the game open in the second.
OBU erupted for seven runs on seven hits in the frame, highlighted by a two-run double from Quioinn Johnson and a towering two-run homer to center by
Tui Amosa. Latimer capped the inning with a two-run double as the Bison built an 8-1 cushion.
Johnson led the charge offensively, finishing 3-for-5 with four RBI, while Amosa added two hits and four RBI of his own, including his home run.
Jaxon McAuliff chipped in with a two-run homer in the sixth as part of a four-run inning that put the game out of reach. OBU totaled 16 hits, with eight players recording at least one.
On the mound,
Marcus Peters (1-1) earned the win, allowing two runs over five innings while striking out six. Jared Adams (1-1) took the loss for Southwestern after surrendering eight runs in two innings of work.
The Bulldogs managed five hits, getting two from John Spoto, but were unable to keep pace with OBU's explosive lineup as the Bison secured the run-rule victory.
Next on the schedule for the green and gold is a home date with Northeastern State on March 3 at 3 p.m.
