McDowall Sets New Homerun Record as USAO Completes Series Sweep at USW

HOBBS, N.M. – Saturday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (14-8, 1-2 SAC) completed the three-game sweep with an impressive 22-10 victory at University of the Southwest (14-10, 5-4 RRAC). The Drovers opened the series with a thrilling 20-13 win, followed by a 7-6 triumph in the second game of the series on Friday.

The Drover offense was incredibly productive throughout the series, compiling a total of 54 hits, 22 extra-base hits, 14 homeruns, and 49 runs.

The Drovers got off to a terrific start and immediately claimed the lead, pushing across a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. However, the Mustangs responded with a couple runs of their own to tie the score at 2-2 in the home half of the first inning.

USAO reclaimed the lead with two more runs in the top of the second inning. USW once again quickly tied the game at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.

The score remained tied until Christopher Martinez launched his fourth homerun of the year to give USAO a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth.

The Mustangs claimed their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth, bringing across five runs to hold a 9-5 advantage.

The Drovers struck for nine runs in the top of the fifth to take a 14-9 lead, highlighted by four homers from Gage Ninness, Christopher Martinez, Ben Bach, and Ben Lawson.

The ball continued to fly out of the yard as Peyton McDowall launched his sixth homer of the season to extend the lead to 16-9 in the top of the sixth.

USAO added more insurance in the top of the seventh, bringing across six more runs to push the lead to 22-9, highlighted by Peyton McDowall's second homer of the game. The Mustangs scored once in the bottom of the seventh but it was not enough to extend the game, and the Drovers clinched the "mercy rule" victory.

As a team, the Drovers compiled 24 hits, as well as reaching on one USW fielding error and seven walks. Meanwhile, the Mustangs reached the bases on 16 hits, and they drew one walk. The Drovers launched seven homeruns, while the Mustangs hit one out of the yard.

Peyton McDowall made program history in the win, becoming the program's all-time homerun leader with the 33^rd and 34^th longballs of his career. McDowall finished the game 5-6 with two doubles, two homers, three runs scored, and four runs batted in. This season, McDowall is batting .355 with 27 hits, eight doubles, a triple, seven homers, 24 runs scored, and 23 runs batted in. He owns a .448 on base percentage and a .763 slugging percentage. In his 126-game career at USAO, he has produced a .397 batting average with 177 hits, 44 doubles, 6 triples, 34 homeruns, 143 runs scored, and 148 RBIs.

Christopher Martinez also had a huge game, going 5-6 with two homers, four runs scored, and six runs batted in.

Ben Lawson, Ben Bach, and Gage Ninness also launched homers in the win. Lawson went 2-4 with a walk, a homerun, three runs, and two RBIs. Bach concluded 2-5 with a walk a bomb, and a pair of RBIs, while Ninness went 3-6 with his second homer of the weekend, as well as two runs scored, and three runs batted in.

Gabriel Arroyo concluded 3-5 with a walk, four runs scored, and a RBI, while Devin Alvarez went 2-3 with two walks, a double, three runs and two RBIs.

Ian Ortiz scored once and singled once.

Sam Replogle got the start on the mound for USAO and delivered 3.0 innings of work, surrendering four runs on nine hits and he struck out one batter. Camden Gipson relieved Replogle in the bottom of the fourth and recorded one out. Tristan Perry earned the win as he delivered 3.1 strong innings of work, allowing only one run on four hits and struck out two batters. Naton Herchock recorded the final out of the game for the Drovers in the bottom of the seventh.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will return to the Lone Star State on March 15-16 for a three-game series on the road at No. 21 ranked Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. Friday's double-header is scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM CT, followed by a 1:00 PM CT start time for Saturday's series finale. 

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