For the 13th Year in a Row, the Drovers have Won or Tied the Season-Series Against MACU

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Saturday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (12-11, 2-4 SAC) clinched a series victory as they spilt a double-header against Mid-America Christian University (19-6, 3-3 SAC).

After the Drovers won Friday's contest by a score of 7-1, MACU bounced back with a 9-5 win in the first game on Saturday afternoon. Saturday's series finale was a scoreless tie until the bottom of the sixth when the Drovers scored the only run of the game and used Reed Butz's sensational pitching performance to earn the series-clinching victory.

With the win, the Drovers improve to 48-14 all-time against the Evangels, which includes a stretch of 37 wins in the last 42 games against MACU. Furthermore, Science & Arts has either won or tied each of the last 13 regular season series' against Mid-America, dating back to the 2011 season. 

GAME 1 – 

After being unable to claim a lead in the series opener, the Evangels quickly grabbed the lead in the first game of Saturday's twin-bill, scoring once in the top of the first inning. 

USAO managed to tie the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning, but MACU immediately responded with a four-run outburst in the top of the third inning. 

The Drovers were able to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 5-3. 

The Evangels added some insurance with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Drovers once again trimmed the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

With the score 7-5 going into the seventh inning, MACU was able to bring home a pair of runs to put the game out of reach for USAO.

As a team, MACU recorded eight hits, while holding USAO to six.

Gage Gaunt led the Drovers at the plate, going 2-3 with a solo-homerun and two runs scored. Will Hoch concluded 1-2 with a walk and two runs batted in, while Peyton McDowall went 1-3 with a pair of runs batted in.

Gabriel Arroyo and Christopher Martinez each singled and scored in the loss.

Megumi Fukuda got the start on the mound for USAO and was dealt the loss, after surrendering five earned runs on three hits and seven walks. 

Boone Lasater and Nolan Gagnon combined to pitch the final 4.1 innings of the contest.

GAME 2 – 

The series finale was an epic pitcher's duel and the Drovers only needed one run to capture victory, as well as claim the series.

The only run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning as Gage Gaunt scored on Gavin Machado's RBI-double to right field. 

Reed Butz was superb on the mound for the Drovers, pitching 7.0 shutout innings and allowed only four hits while striking out seven batters. 

As a team, the Drovers compiled six hits, three of which came off the bat of Gage Gaunt. Gaunt continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-3 with a single, a double, a triple, and scored the game-winning run. In the three-game series against MACU, Gaunt went 8-10 with three doubles, a triple, a homer, five runs scored, and three runs batted in. 

Gabriel Arroyo concluded 1-3 with a triple, and Gavin Machado finished 1-2 with a RBI-double. Nick Fleckenstein also delivered a single in the win.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action at home on Monday, March 13 as they host a non-conference game against No. 22 ranked Indiana Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM at Bill Smith Ballpark.

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