Offense Continues to Slug as USAO Pummels Randall

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Tuesday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (18-20, 12-12 SAC) continued to score in bunches as they cruised to a 22-2 triumph in their final regular season home game against Randall University (15-24, 8-3 NCCAA).

The 22-run outburst was USAO's second consecutive 20-run victory, following a 27-7 performance against Oklahoma City University last Friday. USAO has scored 18 or more runs in five of their last eight games, and they have surpassed 20 runs in three of those contests.

The Drovers are heating up at the right time of the year, having won 9 of their last 12 games, and they have outscored opponents 158-65 in that span.

Tuesday's matchup opened with a scoreless first inning, prior to the Drovers scoring four runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Anthony Hampton's three-run home run. USAO then stretched the lead to 10-0 with six runs in the third, powered by Corey Morro's sixth home run of the season.

The Drover offense then brought in 11 runs in the fourth inning, marking their second game in a row in which they have scored double digits in a single inning. In the third inning of last Friday's game against OCU, USAO's first two batters were retired prior to an 18-run, two-out rally. In what could possibly be the largest two-out rally in the history of baseball, the Drovers sent 23 batters to the plate, registering 12 hits, and all nine batters scored at least once in the 40-minute-long half-inning.

USAO proceeded to score their final run in the bottom of the fifth, prior to the Saints scoring their only two runs in the top of the sixth. The game was called in the seventh inning, due to the run-rule.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 14 hits and reached on eight walks, while the Saints tallied five hits and drew seven walks. Randall committed two fielding errors, while USAO was unblemished on defense.

Jake Finkelstein got the start on the mound and delivered a pair of scoreless innings and struck out three batters. Over the next three innings, Yohandel Santana, Chris Ottinger, and Julian Pokorny each tossed scoreless innings of relief. Naton Herchock pitched the sixth inning, followed by a scoreless seventh from Jaxon McDonald.

USAO's offense was led by four, two-hit performances from Henry Garcia, Duncan Key, Gabe Clyden, and Anthony Hampton. Garcia finished 2-3 with a run scored and three runs batted in, while Hampton went 2-5 with a homer, two runs scored, and three runs batted in. Key concluded 2-4 with a double and a run scored, and Clyden went 2-3 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBIs.

Brandon Latter drove in five runs as he went 1-3 with a grand slam, a walk, and four runs scored. Angel Tiscareno drove in three runs as he went 1-2 with a double and a run scored.

Corey Morro was terrific at the dish, going 1-1 with a home run, two walks, four runs scored, and two runs batted in, while Alfonso Camacho went 1-1 with a triple, two walks, two runs scored, and a run batted in.

Luke Fox went 1-2 with a double, a walk, two runs scored, and a run batted in, and Sammy Chapman finished 1-2 with a run scored and a run batted in.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will now head to Oklahoma City for a three-game series at MACU to wrap up the regular season on April 17-18.

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