NAIA
[Baseball] #12 Drovers Extend Win-Streak to Double Digits Against College of the Ozarks
CHICKASHA, Okla. – Saturday afternoon, the No. 12 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (29-8, 14-4 SAC) extended their win-streak to 10 with a series-sweep against College of the Ozarks (20-17 NCCAA). The Drovers swung the bats well and received a couple of brilliant performances to win the first game of the day 7-1, followed by a 9-3 victory in the series finale. With the sweep, USAO has now won 14 of their last 15 games played.With the sweep, the Drovers improve to 7-1 all-time against the Bobcats. GAME 1 – In the third game of the series, Drew Shaver (JR/Sante Fe, TX) was sensational on the mound as he led the Drovers to a 7-1 triumph. Neither team was able to score for the first two innings, but the Drovers were able to capture the first lead of the game by bringing in four runs in the bottom of the third inning. USAO added two more runs in the fifth inning, followed by their final run in the fifth inning.College of the Ozarks scored their only run of the game in the top of the sixth inning, prior to Shaver slamming the door shut on the Bobcats in the seventh.Shaver earned the complete-game victory, pitching all 7.0 innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run. He struck out nine batters as he improved to 8-2 this season. In 61.1 innings pitched this season, Shaver owns a 3.23 earned run average and he has fanned 73 batters, averaging 10.71 strikeouts per nine innings.At the plate, the Drovers recorded eight hits, coming from six different players. Gage Gaunt (SO/Clinton, OK) powered the offense with a 2-4 performance which included a double and a two-run homerun, directly into a 20-25 mile per hour wind.Gabriel Arroyo (SO/Arecibo, Puerto Rico) went 1-2 with a walk, one run scored, and two runs batted in, while Jake Womack (SR/Chickasha, OK) finished 1-3 with a RBI-triple. Luke Lewis (SO/Ft. Cobb, OK) concluded 1-3 with a double and a run scored, and Luis Pelayo (SR/Santa Cruz, Aruba) went 1-3 with a run scored.Joey Pena (SR/Mustang, OK) closed 1-2 with a walk. GAME 2 – The Drover offense stayed red-hot in the series finale, scoring seven or more runs for the fifth consecutive game. Science & Arts took an early lead with one run in the bottom of the first inning. USAO added four more runs in the second inning, followed by one more in the third.The Drovers held the 6-0 lead until the fifth inning, when they added a trio of runs.The Bobcats scored all three of their runs in the top of the seventh inning prior to running out of outs, and suffering their fifth loss in a row.As a team, the Drovers strung together eight hits and drew six walks to score their nine runs. Peyton McDowall (JR/Cibolo, TX) and Gage Gaunt delivered magnificent performances at the plate. McDowall concluded 3-3 with a double, a walk, and three runs scored, while Gaunt finished 2-3 with a homerun, a double, a walk, two runs scored, and three RBI's. Luke Lewis closed 1-3 with a run scored and a pair of runs batted in. Brock Henderson (JR/Chickasha, OK) and Joey Pena each singled, while Brandon Shumway (SR/Chickasha, OK) went 0-2 with a run scored and two runs batted in. WHAT'S NEXT?The Drovers will aim to continue their win-streak when they open a three-game series at Wayland Baptist University with a double-header on Thursday, April 21. First-pitch of game one is scheduled for 4:00 PM CT In Plainview, Texas. Stay up to date on all Science & Arts Athletics news by following us on our media platforms!Athletics Website: www.usaoathletics.comLive-stream: www.sacsportsnetwork.com/usao/YouTube: Drover AthleticsTwitter: @DroverAthleticsFacebook: @DroverAthleticsInstagram: @drover_athleticsGIPHY: www.giphy.com/USAODrovers