Drovers Fall to SWOSU in Mid-Week Showdown

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Tuesday evening, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (21-12, 7-5 SAC) was dealt an 11-6 loss against Southwestern Oklahoma State University (19-16, 10-11 GAC). When the familiar foes met earlier this season in Weatherford, the Drovers came away with a 21-11 victory.

USAO is now 16-30 against SWOSU all-time, a series which dates to April of 1997. Since March 22, 2016, the Drovers are 7-8 against the Bulldogs in the last 15 games played.

After Tuesday's contest began with a pair of scoreless innings, the Bulldogs began to score consistently for the remainder of the contest. Both teams scored a pair of runs in the third inning, but SWOSU would begin to extend their lead, scoring twice in the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead to 6-2. USAO scored once in the bottom of the fifth but would not score again until the eighth. 

The Bulldogs stretched their lead to 9-3 with one run in the top of the sixth, followed by two in the top of the seventh.

The Drovers cut the deficit to 9-4 on Gage Ninness' RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth. However, the Bulldogs added more insurance with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning. 

USAO brought across its final two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally was too little, too late.

As a team, the Drovers compiled 12 hits, as well as reaching on two SWOSU fielding errors, and three walks. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs reached the bases on 14 hits, two Drover fielding errors, and they drew five walks. 

 USAO's offense was led by five multi-hit performances from Gage Ninness, Peyton McDowall, Christopher Martinez, Gavin Machado, and Devin Alvarez. Ninness concluded 2-5 with three runs batted in. McDowall went 2-5 with a double and a run scored, while Christopher Martinez went 2-4 with a double, a walk, one run scored, and one run batted in.  Machado finished 2-4 with a pair of singles, and Alvarez closed 2-3 with a triple and two runs scored. 

Ben Bach went 1-4 with a double, while Ben Lawson went 1-4 with a walk and a run scored. 

 Sam Reglogle got the start on the mound for USAO and delivered a 1.1 of scoreless innings of work. In his last two appearances, Replogle has surrendered only one run and two hits, while striking out two batters in 5.0 innings.

Naton Herchock relieved Replogle in the second and pitched for the next 1.2 innings. Camden Gipson made an appearance prior to Tristan Perry and Fernando Medina each going for 0.2 innings. Hagen Earls did not allow an earned run in 1.2 innings pitched. Alden Norquist pitched in the seventh inning and JD Prather tossed a scoreless frame in the eighth. Cale Hutchens recorded the final three outs for USAO. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will now head to Plainview, Texas for a three-game series at Wayland Baptist University on April 5-6. Friday's double-header is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM CT, followed by a 1:00 PM start time for Saturday's series finale. 

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