Garcia Blasts Three Home Runs as USAO Splits First Two Postseason Games at #19 MACU

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Friday afternoon, the No. 7 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (21-23, 13-14 SAC) split the first two games of the SAC Tournament on the road at No. 2 seeded Mid-America Christian University (34-12, 20-7 SAC). The Drovers dropped the series opener 8-5, but kept their season alive with a thrilling 8-7 win in game two, forcing the decisive game three to determine who advances to the final site of the tournament in Joplin, Mo.

In total, the Drovers are now 54-22 against the Evangels in head-to-head matchups since 2005. Furthermore, USAO has won 43 of the last 54 meetings between the rivals.

GAME 1

After the Drovers scored a pair of early runs in the top of the first inning, the Evangels retaliated with a six-run rally in the bottom half of the inning.

MACU extended the lead to 7-2 in the second, followed by three scoreless frames. In the bottom of the sixth, the Evangels added another insurance run, prior to Henry Garcia launching his 13^th home run of the season to cut the deficit to 8-3 in the top of the seventh.

USAO continued their momentum with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to trim MACU's lead to 8-5, but that is as close as it would get.

As a team, the Drovers offense concluded with 10 hits and reached on five walks, while the Evangels tallied 12 hits and drew three walks. USAO committed one fielding error, while MACU was perfect on defense.

Tyson Noel got the start on the mound for the Drovers and went 6.0 innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits, and he struck out four batters. Julian Pokorny delivered a pair of scoreless innings in relief and struck out four batters.

USAO's offense was led by four, two-hit performances off the bats of Henry Garcia, Corey Morro, Duncan Key, and Alfonso Camacho. Garcia finished 2-3 with a home run, two walks, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. Camacho went 2-3 with a run scored and a run batted in, while Morro went 2-5 with a run batted in. Key finished 2-4 with a pair of singled and a walk.

Brandon Latter doubled and scored, while Anthony Hampton singled and walked.

GAME 2

With their backs against the wall, the Drovers got off to a great start, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning on a two-RBI single from Duncan Key in the top of the first inning.

In the bottom of the second, MACU claimed the lead with a four-run rally, followed by another pair of runs in the fourth.

Henry Garcia blasted his 14^th home run of the year in the top of the fifth to trim USAO's deficit to 6-4. The Evangels stretched their lead to three with a solo-homer in the bottom of the fifth.

The Drovers got hot in the top of the eighth and reclaimed the lead with four runs, including a three-run home run by Henry Garcia, his second of the game and third of the day.

 Jake Finkelstein shut down the Evangels in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings to keep their championship hopes alive.

Brian Ereu got the start on the mound for the Drovers and went 5.0 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits, and he struck out three batters. Naton Herchock earned the win as he pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief and struck out three batters. Finkelstein earned his first save of the year as he went 1.2 scoreless innings and fanned three batters.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced six hits and reached on three walks, while the Evangels tallied nine hits and drew four walks. USAO managed to overcome three fielding errors, while MACU's defense was unblemished.

USAO's offense was led by Henry Garcia powerful performance, concluding 3-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and five runs batted in. This season, Garcia is batting .366 with 56 hits, including 10 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, 47 runs scored, 52 runs batted in, and 19 stolen bases. He ranks second in the SAC in home runs, and fifth in runs batted in.

Connor Martin went 2-3 with three runs scored and a run batted in, while Duncan Key finished 1-4 with a double and two runs batted in.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Evangels will now play the decisive game three on Saturday (April 25) at 12:00 PM CT in Oklahoma City. The winner of the series will advance to the tournament's final site at Joe Becker Ballpark in Joplin, Mo., beginning May 1.

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