Drovers Sweep the Bobcats to Advance to Second Round of SAC Tournament

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Friday evening, the No. 3 seeded University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (31-17, 18-9 SAC) opened the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament with a double-header sweep against No. 6 College of the Ozarks (20-28, 11-15 SAC). The Drovers advanced to the next round of the tournament with a 7-0 shutout victory in game one, followed by an exciting 8-6 triumph in game two, sweeping the best of three series. The Drovers improve to 10-3 against the Bobcats all-time, dating to March 2021. 

GAME 1

The Drovers used a complete-game shutout from Bian Ereu and a couple of big innings to open the postseason with a commanding 7-0 win.

After a scoreless first inning, the Drovers rallied for four runs in the bottom of the second to claim an early lead, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Devin Alvarez. USAO extended the least to 5-0 in the third inning on Corey Morro's single to right field, scoring Peyton McDowall. Gunnar Hansen and Nolan Herchock hit back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the seventh to add insurance for the Drovers. 

As a team, the Drovers produced eight hits and reached the bases on three walks, while the Bobcats tallied eight hits and drew zero free passes. USAO committed a pair of fielding errors, while Ozarks fumbled the ball once.

USAO's offense was led by a perfect performance at the plate for Gunnar Hansen, concluding 3-3 with a walk and his seventh homer of the season. Nolan Herchock launched his fourth homer of the season in his only trip to the plate.

Peyton McDowall finished 1-2 with a double, a walk, and a run scored. Corey Morro singled, walked, and drove in a run, while Devin Alvarez singled and drove in a pair of runs. Ricky Requejo singled and scored in the series opener. Jaden Wiley scored a run and drove in a run. 

Brian Ereu got the start on the mound for the Drovers and was sensational as he improved his record to 9-1 this season. The Drovers ace delivered 9.0 scoreless innings, surrendering eight hits and striking out five batters. This season, Ereu leads the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 2.95 earned run average, ranks second in wins (9), and sixth in strikeouts (75). In his career, the sophomore owns a 21-3 record and a 4.03 earned run average, along with 171 strikeouts in 176.0 innings.

GAME 2

The Drovers used an early lead to propel themselves to the series-clinching 8-6 victory.

College of the Ozarks held a brief lead with one run in the top of the first inning, answered by one run in each of the next two innings for USAO. The Drovers stretched the lead to 5-1 in the third inning, highlighted by Peyton McDowall's 12^th home run of the season. Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Drovers extended the lead to 7-1 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. 

The Bobcats rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull within two runs. USAO added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Ozarks made things interesting in the top of the ninth, getting the potential go-ahead run on base, but failed to overcome the deficit, scoring just once in the frame. 

As a team, the Drovers produced nine hits and reached the bases on three walks, while the Bobcats tallied 11 hits and drew four free passes. College of the Ozarks committed three fielding errors, while USAO was perfect on defense. 

Tyson Noel got the start on the mound for the Drovers and pitched 5.0 innings as he improved his record to 4-4 this season. He surrendered five runs on six hits and struck out four batters. Ryan Cullinane earned his third save of the season, allowing just one run in 4.0 innings and he struck out four batters.

USAO's offense was led by a couple of powerful performances by Ian Ortiz and Peyton McDowall. Ortiz finished 3-3 with three doubles, a walk, and four runs scored. McDowall concluded 1-1 with a homer, a walk, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. 

Christopher Martinez singled and drove in a pair of runs. Gunnar Hansen doubled and drove in a run, while Devin Alvarez singled and scored a run. Corey Morro and Jaden Wiley each singled in the second win of the day.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will return to action at Bill Smith Ballpark next weekend (May 2-4) as they host the final rounds of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. For more information about the SAC Tournament, CLICK HERE.

https://soonerathletic.org/tournaments/?id=823

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