ADA -- Oklahoma Baptist outlasted East Central in a wild, back-and-forth battle on Tuesday, securing an 11-10 victory in Ada behind a clutch ninth-inning surge.
The Bison (13-11) wasted no time getting on the board, as
Lucas Schaefer delivered an RBI double in the first. After East Central answered to tie the game, OBU regained control in the third with a sacrifice RBI and a solo home run from
Braden Smith to take a 3-1 lead.
Momentum swung dramatically in the middle innings. OBU plated four runs in the fifth, highlighted by
Ben Green's two-run double and
Kaleb Latimer's RBI single, stretching the lead to 7-3. However, East Central (9-16) responded with a five-run bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on timely hits and defensive miscues to take an 8-7 advantage.
The Tigers extended their lead to 9-7 in the sixth, but OBU chipped away late. Green drove in Zane Bennet in the seventh, and the Bison tied the game in the eighth on a wild pitch.
In the decisive ninth frame, OBU capitalized on its opportunities. After a pair of runners moved into scoring position,
Matt Marsic delivered the game-winning blow with a two-run, two-out single up the middle, giving the Bison an 11-9 lead.
ECU threatened in the bottom half, scoring once on a sacrifice fly, but
Nick Cozzi closed the door to earn the save.
Marsic led the Bison offensively, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Green added three RBIÂ while Schaefer and
Tui Amosa each contributed multiple hits. East Central's Tyler Akers paced all hitters with a 5-for-6 performance.
Luis Pezzotti earned the win in relief, while Zane Wilson took the loss. OBU returns to action in March 20 when it hosts Ouachita for a 3 p.m. GAC doubleheader.
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