McDowall Launches FOUR Homers as USAO Advances in the SAC Tournament

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Friday afternoon, the No. 25 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (32-17, 17-7 SAC) opened the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament with a mind-blowing 22-20 walk-off victory against No. 7 seed Southwestern Christian University (32-18, 11-13 SAC).

With the win, the Drovers improve to 30-3 all-time against the Eagles, a series that dates back to April 24, 2014.

In the wild back and forth thriller, the two teams combined for 42 runs, 40 hits, and 12 homeruns. The Eagles tallied 20 runs on 16 hits and they blasted four homers, while the Drovers compiled 22 runs on 24 hits and blasted eight long balls, four of which came off the bat of Peyton McDowall.

PEYTON MCDOWALL'S WALK-OFF HOMERUN – CLICK HERE!

Southwestern Christian wasted no time taking the lead, scoring a trio of runs on a three-run homerun in the top of the first inning.

Science & Arts responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, courtesy of a pair of RBI-doubles from Peyton McDowall and Christopher Martinez.

The Drovers claimed their first lead of the game in the bottom of the second as Ben Lawson crushed a two-run shot to left field.

The Eagles reclaimed the lead in the top of the third with a two-run homer, but USAO immediately retaliated with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.

McDowall extended USAO's lead to 7-5 with his first homerun of the game. 

SCU rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to claim a 13-7 lead. Christopher then cut the deficit to 13-8 with a solo-homer in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Eagles used a solo-homerun in the seventh to take a 14-8 lead into the eighth. 

Down, but not out, Science & Arts rallied for NINE runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 17-14 lead. 

Chaos continued to unfold as SCU pushed across six runs in the top of the ninth and held a 20-17 lead on the scoreboard. 

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Drovers managed to tie the score at 20-20 with a RBI-single from Nick Fleckenstein and a two-RBI double from Christopher Martinez. Peyton McDowall stepped to the plate with a runner on and two outs, when he demolished a two-run dinger for his fourth homerun of the day in walk-off fashion.

McDowall's historic day featured a 5-7 clip, that included a double, four homeruns, four runs scored, and eight runs batted in. This season, McDowall owns a .406 batting average, with 67 hits, 51 runs, 17 doubles, 14 homeruns, 67 RBIs, and a .788 slugging percentage.

Ben Lawson also delivered a massive performance, concluding 4-5 with a triple, two homers, two runs scored, and seven runs batted in.

Christopher Martinez had a big game at the dish, going 5-7 with two doubles, a homerun, three runs scored, and four RBIs.

Gage Gaunt finished 2-4 with a triple, a homerun, three runs scored, and a run batted in, while Gunnar Hansen went 2-6 with a double and two runs scored. Nick Fleckenstein and Gabriel Arroyo each finished 2-6 with a pair of singles. Arroyo scored twice, while Fleckenstein scored once and drove in one run. 

Antonio Hrynkiw was excellent defensively and went 1-4 at the dish. Gunnar Wicklund delivered a clutch double in his only at bat of the game in the ninth inning.

Drew Shaver got the start for USAO on the mound and pitched the opening 4.1 innings. Shaver was relieved by Boone Lasater for an inning, followed by Claudio Rodriguez going for 1.2 innings. Hagen Earls delivered a scoreless eighth inning, prior to Alden Norquist pitching the ninth inning and recording the win.   

USAO Baseball Schedule by The Numbers

• #25 in latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll
• #22 in latest Perfect Game Top 25 Poll
• #22 overall in latest NAIA BO CHIP report
• #18 in latest RPI rankings
• #10 Strength of schedule in NAIA

• Only 5 of 20 opponents have sub .500 records
  • Opponent win-loss record: 533-392 (.576)

• 10 of 19 NAIA opponents have been ranked or receiving votes in Top 25 poll at some point this season

• USAO has won 12 of 15 "series" so far
  • *series of 2 games or more*

• Series victories vs #5 Bellevue (2-0), #14 TX Wes (3-0), RV McPherson (2-1), RV MACU (2-1) 

• 9-6 record vs teams currently in Top 25 or RV

• USAO won 6 of 8 conference series'.
  • 0-3 L at SAGU
  • 2-1 W vs MACU
  • 3-0 W vs TX WES
  • 3-0 W vs CCC
  • 2-1 W vs SCU
  • 3-0 W vs WBU
  • 1-2 L at OCU
  • 3-0 W at OPSU

WHAT'S NEXT?

Science & Arts will take on No. 6 seeded Wayland Baptist University on Saturday, May 6 at 3:30 PM at Bill Smith Ballpark in the first game of the winner's bracket.

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