#3 USAO Suffers Walk-Off Loss in First Game of NAIA Opening Round

LINCOLN, Neb. – Monday afternoon, the No. 3 seeded University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (34-19, 18-9 SAC) opened the 2025 NAIA Baseball Opening Round with a heartbreaking 5-4 walk-off loss against No. 2 Concordia University (41-11, 25-3 GPAC). 

The Drovers clinched an automatic bid into the NAIA national tournament, their ninth consecutive appearance in the tournament, as well as the 11^th in program history. The Bulldogs qualified for the national tournament with an automatic bid as the regular season champions of the Great Planes Athletic Conference. Concordia (Ned.) is making its seventh appearance in the Opening Round.

On Monday, the Bulldogs quickly jumped out to the lead with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Following a scoreless second inning, USAO claimed the lead with a trio of runs in the top of the third inning. However, the lead was short-lived as Concordia answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth.

The Drovers pulled the score even at 4-4 in the top of the seventh as Ian Ortiz drove in Ricky Requejo. The score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth when the Bulldogs scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice-fly to center field.

As a team, the Drovers produced four hits and reached the bases on seven walks, while the Bulldogs tallied eight hits and drew eight free passes. USAO committed one fielding error, while Concordia was perfect on defense.   

The USAO offense was led by Gage Ninness, going 1-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a run batted in. Jaden Wiley concluded 1-2 with a run scored, and Corey Morro finished 1-3 with a double. Devin Alvarez also singled and scored in the first game of the tournament.

Brian Ereu got the start on the mound for the Drovers and went 4.2 innings, surrendering three earned runs on six hits and he struck out three batters. Naton Herchock delivered 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing only two hits and he struck out six batters. Rob Schmidt pitched 0.2 innings prior to the game-winning run being scored. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will face No. 5 seed Mount Mercy (Iowa) in an elimination game on Tuesday, May 13. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT at Sherman Field in Lincoln, Neb.

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