USAO Wins a Thriller in Extras at Friends University

WICHITA, Kan. – Tuesday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (2-3, 0-0 SAC) rallied late to claim a 20-13 victory on the road at Friends University (4-3, 0-0 KCAC). With the win, the Drovers improve to 42-13 against the Falcons in head-to-head matchups since March 2007.

The Drovers wasted little time to take the lead as Corey Morro blasted a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. However, the Falcons immediately responded with a trio of runs to claim a 3-2 lead in the bottom half of the first.

Luke Fox launched a solo-homer in the top of the second to pull the score even at 3-3, but once again the Falcons answered with one run in each of the next two innings.

In the top of the fourth, USAO cut the deficit to 5-4 on Derrick Morillo's solo blast, prior to a four-run rally in the fifth, highlighted by Henry Garcia's home run.

Friends scored once in the fifth and twice in the sixth to pull the score even at 8-8.

Garcia drove in a run in the seventh to briefly give the Drovers the lead, but the Falcons responded with five runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 13-9 advantage.

In the top of the ninth, Blake King cut the deficit to 13-10 with a double to right field. USAO was then down to their final out when Anthony Hampton launched a three-run homer to send the game into extra innings.

Neither team's bullpen allowed a run for the next two innings, but the Drovers were able to break through with SEVEN runs in the top of the 12^th inning, prior to putting the Falcons away in the bottom half of the inning.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 21 hits and reached on 10 walks, while the Falcons tallied 15 hits and drew seven walks. USAO's defense was unblemished, while Friends committed four fielding errors.

Jake Finkelstein got the start on the mound for the Drovers and struck out one batter in an inning of work, prior to handing the ball to Julian Pokorny for 1.0 inning. AJ Scifres pitched the third inning, before Layton Bryan delivered a scoreless frame in the fourth. Jake Wellington worked the fifth, followed by Jaxon McDonald in the sixth, and a scoreless inning in the seventh from Tristan Perry. Yohandel Santana pitched for a 0.1 innings before handing off to Luke Naranjo for the next 1.2. Chris Ottinger struck out two batters in a scoreless 12^th inning to earn the win.

Seven different Drovers recorded multiple hits in the win, led by Connor Martin's 4-6 performance that included a walk, a run batted in, and two runs scored. Henry Garcia concluded 3-6 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored, and two runs batted in, while Derrick Morillo went 3-7 with a double, a homer, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.

Luke Fox finished 3-8 with a home run, two runs scored, and three runs batted in. Anthony Hampton drove in a team-high of four runs as he went 2-7 with a double, a homer, and three runs scored.

Blake King went 2-7 with a double, two runs scored, and three runs batted in, while Alfonso Camacho went 2-7 with three runs scored and a run batted in.

Corey Morro launched his second homer of the year as he went 1-5 with three walks, two runs scored, and three runs batted in. Solomon Harwood concluded 1-2 with a single.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will return to the field this weekend (Feb. 13-14) as they travel to No. 22 ranked Bellevue University in Bellevue, Neb. Friday's double-header is slated to begin at 12:00 PM CT, followed by a 12:00 PM CT start time for Saturday. All three games will be played at John Stella Field at Brown Park.

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