No. 11 (NCBWA) Southern Arkansas won two close games over Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday, winning 9-8 and 9-6 in Great American Conference action at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
GAME ONE
The Bison (14-13, 8-9 GAC) held a 7-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth but ended up falling 9-8 to the host Muleriders.
Before the latter stages of the game, OBU rocked SAU’s leading pitcher Jeremy Adorno, last year’s GAC Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year. The Bison collected 10 hits and seven runs through six innings.
After three scoreless frames, Gabe Irwin got things going with a three-run homer to right. That took place in the fourth after Kade Self and Alex Schroeder walked and singled, respectively.
SAU got two runs back in its half inning of work before the green and gold tallied four more runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
In the fifth, Self provided a sacrifice fly that scored Dan Pruitt and boosted the score to 4-2. An inning later, Austin Gonzales added another sac fly before Jayden Shafer and Pruitt each delivered run-scoring hits. At that point, it was 7-2 green and gold.
That five-run advantage quickly dissipated, though, when SAU returned. In the bottom of the sixth, a three-run shot by Mikey McGinnis and two-run single by Brandon Nicoll tied the game.
Despite that tough inning, OBU would get another lead. That happened in the seventh as Gonzales singled to center and scored Schroeder.
Down 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth, SAU rallied. A double-play ball was almost turned by the Bison, however the throw to first was errant and kept the game going. Then with two out, a homer by Chris Lyles ended the game.
Schroeder and Pruitt ended with three hits apiece while Irwin drove in three, a team-high.
GAME TWO
OBU pulled even on a 4-0 deficit before the hosts pulled away in the end.
McGee and Chris Sutton tallied three of SAU’s first four RBI with a home run and single, respectively. After two frames, the Muleriders led 4-0.
But as they’ve shown before, the green and gold’s offense brought the team back.
Schroeder’s third-inning sac fly scored Shayfer before Jose Parga went deep with a three-run blast to left. That strike, Parga’s second homer of the season, tied the game at 4-4.
Then two frames later, Pruitt smoked a solo shot to left and gave the Bison the lead, 5-4. That was his 33rd career homer, moving him into sole possession of third place in the OBU record books.
Unfortunately, SAU responded again, like it did in the opener. Bottom of the fifth action brought a two-run double by Will Richardson which pushed the home squad back up 6-5. Later, Richardson scored on a throwing error before Nicoll drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch. That made the score 8-5.
OBU did threaten in the top of the seventh with bases loaded and one out. Irwin drew a bases-loaded walk, and Pruitt nearly connected with another homer to right, but a save was ultimately earned by Isaiah Haynes. He got a lineout and popout to shallow right to conclude the game.
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