Drovers Drop Series Finale Against Wayland Baptist

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Sunday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (10-7, 2-1 SAC) was dealt a 10-6 loss in the series finale against Wayland Baptist University (10-9, 1-2 SAC). On Saturday, the Drovers opened the series with a 7-4 victory, followed by a 6-3 triumph in game two.

USAO has dominated the all-time series against WBU, going 48-15 against the Pioneers since the series began in March 2007. Sunday's loss was USAO's first home-loss against WBU since 2010, ending a streak of 30 wins in a row against the Pioneers at Bill Smith Ballpark. 

In Sunday's series finale, the Pioneers got off to a red-hot start, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, followed by five more in the second. 

The Drovers cut the deficit to 7-1 with a run in the bottom of the third inning, courtesy of Christopher Martinez's RBI-single. 

WBU extended the lead to 9-1 with two more runs in the top of the sixth. The Drovers trimmed the deficit to 9-5 in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a pair of home runs from Peyton McDowall and Devin Alvarez. 

Both teams scored one run in the ninth inning.

Both offenses recorded 10 hits, meanwhile the Pioneer defense was perfect, and the Drovers committed three fielding errors. 

The Drover offense was led by a trio of multi-hit performances from Gage Ninness, Christopher Martinez, and Ian Ortiz. Ninness finished 3-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Martinez concluded 2-5 with a run batted in, while Ian Ortiz went 2-4 with a homer. 

Devin Alvarez finished 1-4 with a home run and three runs batted in, and Peyton McDowall went 1-4 with a homer and two runs batted in. 

Ricky Requejo finished 1-3 with a run scored.

Kyler Denton got the start on the mound for the Drovers and went 1.2 innings prior to being relieved by Jared Adams. Adams was solid in relief, going 4.1 innings, surrendering two earned runs on five hits and he struck out five batters.

Megumi Fukuda delivered two scoreless innings and struck out a pair of batters. Tristan Perry recorded one out in the ninth, prior to being relieved by Julian Pokorny for the final two outs of the game. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will not head to the Lone Star State for a three-game series at Nelson University in Waxahachie, Texas on Feb. 28 and March 1. The series will begin with a double-header on Friday, beginning at 12:00 PM CT, followed by a noon start time for Saturday's series finale. 

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