Drovers Rally Late to Win at Friends University

WICHITA, Kan. – Tuesday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (13-11, 2-4 SAC) stayed hot with a 10-7 victory against Friends University (9-13, 3-5 KCAC).

With the win, the Drovers have emerged victorious in all three contests against the Falcons this season, after having won a pair of games in Chickasha on February 17 and 18. Furthermore, Science & Arts now owns a 41-10 record against Friends all-time, including a recent stretch of 20 wins over the last 23 games played between the familiar foes.

The Drovers quickly took the lead in Tuesday's contest, pushing across one run in the top of the first inning.

The score remained 1-0 until the top of the third when USAO added on five more runs, highlighted by Christopher Martinez's third homerun of the season.

The Falcons tied the score at 6-6 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, followed by four more runs in the fourth.

Friends took over the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with one run. However, the Drovers quickly reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh as they brought in a pair of runs. 

Science & Arts added an insurance run in the eighth inning, followed by one more in the ninth to extend the lead to 10-7, leaving the deficit too large for the Falcons to overcome in the bottom half of the inning.

Drew Shaver made his first start of the season and went 3.1 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, and he struck out four batters.

Shaver was relieved by Claudio Rodriguez, who pitched the following 1.2 innings. Kaden Alexander entered the game in the sixth inning and delivered a pair of scoreless frames to earn the win on his resume. Nolan Gagnon and Alden Norquist combined to hold the Falcons scoreless in the final two innings.

As a team, the Drovers compiled 12 hits, led by Will Hoch's three-hit game. Hoch was perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with a pair of walks, a double, a run scored, and two runs batted in. 

Christopher Martinez continued his incredible start to the season, with a 2-4 performance which included a solo-homer and two runs scored. Ryan Duncan also added a pair of hits, going 2-3 with a pair of runs batted in. Antonio Hrynkiw went 2-4 with a run batted in.

Gunnar Wicklund finished 1-4 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Gabriel Arroyo went 1-4 with a pair of runs scored. Peyton McDowall singled and scored twice in the win.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action on Saturday, March 18 as they play a non-conference double-header at Texas A&M University Texarkana. First pitch of the twin-bill is scheduled for 12:00 PM at George Dobson Field in Texarkana, Texas.

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