SHAWNEE — Following a Tuesday night matchup against NAIA University of Science and Arts (OK), the Bison fell by a 7-6 score after struggling to bring in base runners throughout the game. USAO escaped Oklahoma Baptist's comeback attempt in the final inning, pitching the final out with a runner left on base.
OBU dropped its record to 19-23 in the process.
USAO led off the game on a walk and placed a runner on second after a left-field drive by Henry Garcia. The Drover's soon loaded the bases on a second walk and followed with a hit-by-pitch bringing in the first run. Back-to-back outs would appear to put a damper on the surge, however a two-RBI single from Gabe Clyden the score to 3-0.
Bison lead-off hitter
Matt Marsic responded with a single to left field in the bottom of the first, setting up a right field grounder by
Ben Green to place the Bison in scoring position. A wild pitch in the dirt sent Marsic storming to home plate for the first run for the hosts. This soon was complimented by a sac fly to deep left field by
Braden Smith, bringing the Bison within one run.
Neither team would record a hit again until the top of the third with USAO's Sol Harwood doubled off the left field wall. Two straight walks would load the bases, setting up a two-RBI single for the Drovers to spread the lead to 5-2.
OBU began to gain momentum with four runs on five hits at the bottom of the third. Smith and
Keenan Morris both recorded an RBI apiece on singles to center, bringing in Green and Lucas Shaeffer who had gotten to their positions on a fielding error.
However, this momentum would soon dissipate in the fourth after a USAO single to center field brought in two more runs. The remainder of the game would be an attempt to claw back from the deficit but to no avail. A fielder's choice and an error would result in the final run for the Bison on a hit by
Zane Bennett.
The game was highlighted by a double steal by the Bison in the seventh inning resulting in both runners advancing and scoring one run. The Drover's remained scoreless after the fourth inning but maintained the lead to game's end. Of note, OBU stranded six runners over the final four frames.
On the mound,
Landon Gutierrez took the loss while
Lucas Hernandez tossed the final three innings, fanned four and didn't allow a single hit to USAO.
OBU returns to Bobby Cox Field on Friday, Apr. 24 at 6 p.m. to take on Southern Nazarene in Shawnee.
