USAO Sweeps Double-Header on the Road at WBU

PLAINVIEW, Texas – Friday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (23-12, 9-5 SAC) opened the three-game series with a double-header sweep at Wayland Baptist University (17-19, 7-7 SAC). The Drovers opened the day with a hard-fought 4-2 win, followed by a 13-5 blowout victory in the second game. 

The Drovers have won the series against the Pioneers seven years in a row, and they dominated the all-time series against the Pioneers, going 43-14 against WBU since March 31, 2007. Additionally, USAO is 25-1 against WBU since May 9, 2016. 

-GAME 1-

After the game began with a scoreless first inning, the Drovers claimed the first lead on Ian Ortiz's solo-home run in the top of the second. However, the Pioneers responded with a pair of runs and took a 2-1 lead going into the third.

USAO evened the score at 2-2 on Christopher Martinez's RBI-double in the top of the third inning.

The score remained tied until the top of the fourth inning when Gunnar Hansen launched a solo-homer to give the Drovers a 3-2 advantage.

The Drovers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on Gage Ninness' RBI-double to right field, prior to retiring the Pioneers in the bottom of the seventh to conclude the series opener.

As a team, the Drovers reached the bases on seven hits and drew one walks, meanwhile the Pioneers tallied four hits and did not draw a walk. Neither team committed any fielding errors.

The Drover offense was led by a trio of two-hit performances, led by Ian Ortiz going 2-3 with his fourth homer of the season, along with a pair of runs scored. 

Christopher Martinez concluded 2-3 with a double, a triple, and a run batted in, while Gage Ninness went 2-3 with a double, a run scored, and a run batted in.

Gunnar Hansen finished 1-3 with his third homer of the year.

Kyler Denton got the start on the mound for the Drovers and delivered 5.0 innings of solid work, allowing two runs on four hits and he struck out five batters. Denton improved his record 5-1 with the win. Ryan Cullinane relieved Denton for the final 2.0 innings and earned his third save of the season as he struck out one batter, while allowing no runs or hits.

-GAME 2- 

The Drovers led from start to finish in the second game of the day. USAO plated four runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Peyton McDowall's 12^th home run of the season. 

The Pioneers responded with one run in the bottom of the first.

USAO scored two more runs in the top of the second inning and maintained a 7-1 lead until the bottom of the third when WBU scored two runs of their own. 

Ben Bach launched his seventh home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning to push the lead to 8-3 for USAO. The Drovers continued to add insurance in the top of the sixth, bringing in five runs to take a 13-3 advantage.

The Pioneers scored their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was far too little, too late to extend the game further.  

Brian Ereu improved his record to an incredible 8-0 with 6.0 solid innings of work on the mound. Ereu struck out five batters while allowing only four hits and three runs. Alden Norquist recorded the final three outs for the Drovers in the seventh.  

The Drovers reached the bases on 12 hits and they drew nine walks. Meanwhile, the Pioneers tallied six hits and drew two walks. The Drovers committed one fielding error, while the Pioneers committed zero defensive mistakes. 

Peyton McDowall led the way for the Drovers at the plate, going 4-5 with a home run, two runs scored, and six runs batted in. 

Ben Bach concluded 2-2 with a home run, two walks, three runs scored, and two runs batted in. Christopher Martinez finished 2-3 with two walks and three runs scored. Gage Ninness singled twice as he closed the game 2-5 with a pair of runs scored. 

Devin Alvarez drove in three runs as he went 1-3 with a double and a run scored. Ian Ortiz finished 1-3 with a walk and a run batted in.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Pioneers will conclude the three-game series on Saturday, April 6 at 1:00 PM CT in Plainview, Texas. 

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