Drovers Score 23 in Double-Header Sweep at OPSU

GOODWELL, Okla. – Saturday afternoon, the No. 25 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (30-17, 16-7 SAC) swept a double-header at Oklahoma Panhandle State University (8-33-1, 3-20 SAC). The Drovers opened the day with an 11-5 win, followed by a 12-2 victory in game two.

With the pair of wins, the Drovers improve to 18-0 against the Aggies all-time, dating back to March 23, 2018.

Science & Arts is now locked in a tie for second in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, alongside Oklahoma City University. The Drovers can earn a share of the regular season championship with a win at OPSU on Sunday, along with MACU winning the series finale against Texas Wesleyan University on Sunday. OCU could also earn a share of the title with a win against Central Christian and a Texas Wesleyan loss.

-GAME 1-

Science & Arts emphatically opened the series, taking an early 2-0 lead with one run in each of the first two innings. 

The Aggies cut the deficit in half with one run in the bottom of the second inning.

USAO remained in a 2-1 lead until they added five more insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning. 

Down but not out, OPSU responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 7-4 going into the sixth.

The Drovers managed to push across four more runs in the top of the sixth to stretch the lead to 11-4.

OPSU scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Drew Shaver improved his record to 4-1 as he got the start on the mound and pitched the opening 5.0 innings. Shaver surrendered four runs and six hits, while striking out five batters.

Claudio Rodriguez did not allow an earned run and he struck out three batters in 2.0 innings of work.

As a team, the Drovers produced 12 hits at the plate, coming from six different players.

Gage Gaunt led the way for USAO, going 3-3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.

Peyton McDowall doubled twice as he concluded 2-3 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Tony Hrynkiw also finished 2-3, along with three runs batted in and a run scored. 

Gabriel Arroyo concluded 2-4 with a double, two runs scored, and two runs batted in, while Nick Fleckenstein went 2-5 with three runs scored and a RBI.

Will Hoch closed the game 1-3 with a run scored and a run batted in.

-GAME 2-

After the game opened with a scoreless first inning, the Drovers took a 2-0 lead on Ben Lawson's two-run homerun in the top of the second inning. USAO extended the lead with one run in the top of the third inning, followed by one more in the fourth.

Science & Arts scored pair of runs in the top of the fifth, stretching the lead to 6-0. However, the Aggies responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-2 going into the sixth.

The Drovers added two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth, followed by four more in the seventh to lengthen the lead to 12-2.

Reed Butz got the start on the mound for Science & Arts and improved his record to 8-2, as he limited the Aggies to two runs and eight hits, while striking out five batters.

Boone Lasater relieved Butz in the sixth and delivered 1.2 scoreless innings, and he struck out three batters.

Offensively, the Drovers produced 11 hits, coming from seven different players. Gabriel Arroyo led the way with a 3-5 performance that included a triple, a run scored, and two runs batted in.

Ben Lawson was perfect at the plate, going 2-2 with two walks, a homerun, three runs scored, and two runs batted in. Gavin Machado also added a pair of hits, going 2-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. 

Nick Fleckenstein drove in a trio of runs as he went 1-5 with a double. Ryan Duncan concluded 1-1 with a walk, a run scored, and a run batted in. Will Hoch went 1-3 with a hit by pitch and two runs scored.

-USAO Baseball Schedule by The Numbers-

• #25 in latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll
• #22 in latest Perfect Game Top 25 Poll
• #18 overall in latest NAIA BO CHIP report
• #18 in latest RPI rankings
• #6 Strength of schedule in NAIA

• Only 5 of 20 opponents have sub .500 records
  • Opponent win-loss record: 507-372 (.576)

• 10 of 19 NAIA opponents have been ranked or receiving votes in Top 25 poll at some point this season

• USAO has won 12 of 15 "series" so far
  • *series of 2 games or more*

• Series victories vs #5 Bellevue (2-0), #14 TX Wes (3-0), RV McPherson (2-1), RV MACU (2-1) 

• 9-6 record vs teams currently in Top 25 or RV

• USAO has won 6 of 8 conference series'.
  • 0-3 L at SAGU
  • 2-1 W vs MACU
  • 3-0 W vs TX WES
  • 3-0 W vs CCC
  • 2-1 W vs SCU
  • 3-0 W vs WBU
  • 1-2 L at OCU
  • 2-0 W at OPSU

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Aggies will wrap up the three-game series at Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Sunday, April 29. First pitch of Sunday's regular season finale is scheduled for 12:00 PM in Goodwell, Okla.

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