USAO Cruises to Victory in Midweek Showdown Against SWOSU

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Tuesday evening, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (24-14, 13-8 SAC) delivered an impressive performance to claim an 11-2 victory against Southwestern Oklahoma State University (20-16, 9-14 GAC). 

The Drovers improve to 17-30 against the Bulldogs in the all-time series dating to April 1997. USAO has found a fair amount of success against SWOSU since 2017, having won seven of the 14 meetings in that span. 

Tuesday's contest was also a reunion of sorts, as Gage Gaunt made his return to Bill Smith Ballpark, but this time wearing Bulldog blue. Gaunt was previously a Drover from 2021-23. In his career at USAO, Gaunt appeared in 137 games and recorded 157 hits, 46 doubles, five triples, 33 homeruns, 140 runs scored, and 125 runs batted in. Gaunt owned a .318 career batting average and he has also stolen 17 bases. He was also an all-conference honoree in 2023.

The reunion began with a scoreless inning, but USAO was able to capture an early advantage with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by a RBI-double from Peyton McDowall. The Drovers added insurance with four runs in the fourth, followed by two more in the fifth to possess an 8-0 lead. 

SWOSU scored its first run in the top of the seventh, but USAO immediately retaliated with two more runs in the bottom half of the seventh. The Bulldogs scored their final run in the top of the eighth to trim their deficit to 10-2, but the Drovers once again answered with a run of their own to take an 11-2 advantage into the final inning. Tristan Perry closed the door on the Bulldogs in the top of the ninth to close out the win.

As a team, the Drovers produced 12 hits and reached the bases on four walks, while the Bulldogs tallied 11 hits and drew six free passes. Both defenses committed a pair of fielding errors.

Jared Adams got the start on the mound for the Drovers and pitched a scoreless first inning, prior to Bode Brooks Delivering a pair of scoreless frames, and earned his first win of the season. Adams struck out one batter, while Brooks fanned two. 

Jakob Brandenberger tossed. 0.2 innings of scoreless relief before handing the ball to Azalius Lewis for the next 1.1 scoreless innings. Lewis struck out two batters.

Julian Pokorny pitched a scoreless sixth inning and struck out a batter. Megumi Fukuda entered in the seventh inning and surrendered one run, prior to being relieved by Tristan Perry for the final two innings.

The Drover offense was led by a trio of two-hit performances, including Peyton McDowall's perfect 2-2 showing. McDowall crushed a pair of doubles, scored once, and drove in three runs. Corey Morro also went 2-2 with a walk and a pair of runs scored, while Gage Ninness went 2-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases. 

Christopher Martinez scored three runs as he went 1-2 with a double, two walks, and he drove in a run. Ian Ortiz concluded 1-3 with a double, two runs scored, and a run batted in. 

Jaden Wiley went 1-2 with a double, a run scored, and two runs batted in, similar to Duncan Key's stat-line, going 1-2 with two runs batted in. 

Devin Alvarez and Nolan Herchock each singled in the win.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will now head to McPherson, Kan. for a three-game series at Central Christain College on April 11-12. Friday's double-header is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM CT, followed by a noon start time for Saturday's series finale. 

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