Drovers Win Another Wild Mid-Week Game Against Kansas Wesleyan

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Tuesday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (3-6, 0-0 SAC) got back in the win column with an exciting 12-11 win against Kansas Wesleyan University (9-2, 3-0 KCAC).

The Drovers fell behind early on as Kansas Wesleyan struck for one run in the top of the first, followed by a trio of runs in the second.

Trailing 4-0, USAO began to heat up, pushing across three runs in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by Corey Morro's 2-RBI single. The Drovers captured a 6-4 lead by scoring three more runs in the bottom of the third, sparked by a RBI-triple off the bat of Derrick Morillo.

USAO stretched the advantage to 10-4 by scoring once in the fourth, followed by three more in the fifth. The Drovers scored their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Anthony Hampton and Connor Martin drove in a run.

Down, but not out, the Coyotes trimmed their deficit to 12-10 with a six-run rally in the top of the seventh inning. KWU scored their final run in the eighth, prior Tristan Perry thwarting their rally in the ninth, to close out the win.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 10 hits and reached on eight walks, while the Coyotes tallied 11 hits and drew five walks. KWU committed two fielding errors, while USAO was perfect on defense. The Drovers also blazed the base-paths for nine stolen bases in the win.

Kason Johnson made the start on the mound for USAO and delivered 4.0 innings of work, allowing four runs on four hits, and he struck out four batters. Julian Pokorny earned his first win of the season as he pitched 2.0 innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, and he fanned four batters. Luke Naranjo and Layton Bryan each pitched for 0.1 innings prior to handing the ball to Tristan Perry for the final 2.1 innings. Perry surrendered one run on three hits, while striking out one batter to earn his first save of the season.

USAO offense was led by a trio of multi-hit performances from Anthony Hampton, Corey Morro, and Henry Garcia. Hampton concluded 2-3 with two singles, two walks, two stolen bases, two runs scored, and one run batted in.

Morro finished 2-5 with a walk, one run, and two runs batted in, while Garcia went 2-4 with a stolen base, a run scored, and a run batted in.

Luke Fox was perfect at the plate, going 1-1 with a pair of walks, two stolen bases, and three runs scored.

Derrick Morillo closed the game 1-4 with a triple, a run scored, and two runs batted in. Alfonso Camacho went 1-4 with a run scored, two stolen bases, and two runs batted in. Brandon Latter singled in his only at bat of the game.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will open conference-play this weekend (Feb. 20-21) as they host College of the Ozarks. Friday's double-header is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM CT, followed by a 12:00 PM CT start time for Saturday's series finale.

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