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Gage Gaunt greeted at home plate by his teammates after hitting a grand slam.
Posted: May 07, 2023

Drovers Thump the Pioneers to Advance to SAC Tournament Championship

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CHICKASHA, Okla. – Sunday afternoon, the No. 2 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (34-17, 17-7 SAC) advanced to their fifth consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship game with a dominant 15-5 run-rule victory against No. 6 Wayland Baptist University (29-22, 12-12 SAC).

 

With the win, the Drovers are now 41-14 all-time against the Pioneers, a series which dates to March 31, 2007. Furthermore, Science & Arts has won 23 of the last 24 meetings against Wayland Baptist since May 9, 2016. USAO won all five matchups against WBU this season and outscored the Pioneers by a wide margin of 45-17.

 

Science & Arts has emerged victories in each of their last seven games, as well as in 21 of their last 26 games overall. During the seven-game win-streak, USAO has outscoring opponents 99-43. 

 

On Sunday, the Pioneers claimed an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. However, the Drovers immediately responded with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by Antonio Hrynkiw's bases clearing double. 

Wayland Baptist cut their deficit to 6-4 with two more runs in the top of the second inning, but USAO once again responded at the plate, scoring one run in the home half of the frame. 

The Drovers once again scored a half-dozen in an inning, extending the lead to 13-4 in the bottom of the third, highlighted by Gage Gaunt's grand slam.

WBU scored their final fun in the top of the fourth inning, and USAO scored their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Kaden Alexander was everything the Drovers needed and more, going all seven innings, surrendering only five runs on eight hits and he struck out five batters. The gutsy performance improved Alexander's record to 6-3 this season.

 

At the plate, the Drovers produced 16 hits to score their 15 runs. In their three SAC Tournament games, Science & Arts has scored 46 runs and tallied 54 hits (32 singles, 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 11 homeruns).

 

The Drover offense was led by Gage Gaunt's seven-RBI performance. Gaunt concluded 2-4 with his 12thhomerun of the season, along with two runs scored and seven runs batted in. 

Christopher Martinez contributed a terrific offensive performance, going 3-4 with a double, a homerun (10), three runs scored, and two runs batted in.

Ben Lawson also added a trio of hits in the win, going 3-4 with his eighth homer of the season, along with two RBIs.

Antonio Hrynkiw was excellent behind the plate as usual, but he was also a force on offense, going 2-4 with a double and three runs batted in.

Nick Fleckenstein concluded 2-5 with a run scored, while Gabriel Arroyo finished 2-4 with a walk and three runs scored. Peyton McDowall went 1-2 with a pair of walks, two runs scored, and a RBI. Ryan Duncan finished 1-3 with a run scored. 

 

USAO Baseball Schedule by The Numbers

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

 

  • Only 5 of 20 opponents have sub .500 records

 

  • 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 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
    • 3-1 W vs SCU
    • 5-0 W vs WBU
    • 1-2 L at OCU
    • 3-0 W at OPSU

 

 

WHAT'S NEXT?

Science & Arts advances to their fifth consecutive SAC Tournament championship game and will seek its fifth tournament title in program history (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021). USAO will face No. 3 seed Oklahoma City University in the championship game at Bill Smith Ballpark on Monday, May 8 at 1:00 PM.

 

 

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