
Drovers Sweep Double Header to Complete Kansas Road Trip
SALINA, Kan. – Sunday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (4-3, 0-0 SAC) wrapped up the weekend with a double-header sweep against McPherson College and No. 12 ranked Kansas Wesleyan University. USAO opened the day with a 6-1 victory against McPherson, followed by an impressive 11-2 triumph in the finale against KWU.
- GAME 1 vs MCPHERSON COLLEGE (1-5, 0-0 KCAC)
After two scoreless innings, McPherson claimed the first lead with a run in the top of the third inning. However, the Drovers immediately responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Corey Morro launched a leadoff home run.
The score remained even at 1-1 until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Ben Bach hammered a two-run homer to give USAO its first lead of the contest. The Drovers added to the lead with three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, prior to slamming the door shut on the Bulldogs in the top of the seventh.
Both teams tallied six hits in the contest. USAO was perfect on defense, while KWU committed two fielding errors. The Drovers drew two walks, while issuing three free passes.
Devin Alvarez recorded a pair of hits in the win, going 2-2 with a walk and a run scored. Ben Bach concluded 1-2 with a pair of walks and a two-run homer. Christopher Martinez contributed a 1-2 performance that included a pair of walks, and a run batted in, while Jaden Wiley went 1-2 with a walk and a run scored. Corey Morro concluded 1-4 with a solo-home run and two runs scored. Ian Ortiz finished with a single, and Peyton McDowall and Gunnar Hansen each drove in a run.
Brian Ereu got the start on the mound for the Drovers and was sensational as he earned his first win of the season. Ereu delivered 6.0 innings of work, allowing just one run on five hits and he struck out six batters.
Rob Schmidt relieved Ereu for the scoreless seventh inning and struck out the side.
- GAME 2 vs #12 KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY (2-5, 0-0 KCAC)
The weekend finale began with a pair of scoreless innings, prior to the Coyotes striking for a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. However, the Drovers immediately responded with a five-run rally in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a bases-clearing double from Gage Ninness to claim a 5-2 lead.
USAO added to the lead with Ben Bach's solo-homer in the top of the fifth inning, prior to scoring five more runs in the top of the seventh to hold a commanding 11-2 advantage. Jake Wellington slammed the door on the Coyotes in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
As a team, the Drovers offense produced 10 hits and reached on 10 walks, while the Statesmen tallied only three hits and drew one walk. Both teams were perfect on defense and did not commit any fielding errors.
USAO's offense was led by a pair of two-hit performances from Ben Bach and Jaden Wiley. Bach contributed a 2-3 performance that included his second home run of the season, as well as a walk and three runs scored. Wiley finished 2-2 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and two runs batted in.
Corey Morro concluded 1-2 with three walks, a run scored, and a run batted in. Gage Ninness drove in three runs as he went 1-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored, while Peyton McDowall went 1-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Nolan Herchock finished 1-3 with a walk and a run scored. Duncan Key and Christopher Martinez each singled once in the win.
Kyler Denton delivered a strong performance on the mound to earn his first win of the season. Denton delivered 6.0 innings of work, allowing only two earned runs on three hits and he struck out five batters.
Jake Wellington relieved Denton in the seventh and struck out one batter in the scoreless inning.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Drovers will now travel to Sterlington, LA for the Cajun Collision on February 7-8. On Friday, USAO will face Dakota State University at 2:30 PM CT, followed by No. 4 ranked LSU Shreveport at 6:00 PM CT. On Saturday, the Drovers will face Park University at 11:00 AM CT, followed by No. 14 Central Methodist University in the finale at 2:30 PM CT.
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