NAIA

[Baseball] #12 Drovers Overcome 8-Run Deficit to Extend Streak to Six at Friends

WICHITA, Kan. – Tuesday afternoon, the No. 12 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (15-5, 5-1 SAC) extended their win-streak to six games with a wild 20-17 triumph at Friends University (14-9, 6-2 KCAC). The Drovers are now 3-0 against the Falcons this season and improve their all-time record against Friends to 38-10. Additionally, USAO is 17-3 in the last 20 matchups between the two squads, dating back to February 21, 2015. Furthermore, the Drovers surpassed 20 runs scored for the second consecutive game after defeating SAGU 21-2 in Sunday's series finale in Waxahachie, Texas. Prior to the last two games, USAO had not scored 20 runs in a game since May 17, 2019, when they defeated SAGU 22-3 at Bill Smith Ballpark during the SAC Tournament.Entering Tuesday's contest, the Falcons had started the season 12-0 in home games this season. After surrendering a run in the bottom of the first inning, the Drovers responded with a run in the top of the second inning to bring the score even at 1-1.In the bottom half of the second, Friends regained the lead with a solo-homerun, but once again USAO retaliated, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Callen Golloway (JR/Blanchard, OK) blasted a solo shot to lead off the inning, followed by Jake Womack (SR/Chickasha, OK)'s RBI-double that brought across Brock Henderson (JR/Chickasha, OK).However, the lead was exchanged once more in the home half of the third inning as the Falcons struck for seven runs to take a 9-3 lead.Down but not out, Science & Arts brought across five runs in the top of the fourth inning, cutting the deficit to 9-8. The scoring continued in the bottom of the fourth, with Friends scoring seven runs for the second consecutive inning, pushing their lead to 16-8.The Drovers once again tightened the deficit in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs, punctuated by Gage Gaunt (SO/Clinton, OK)'s three-run homer. With Friends holding a 16-12 lead going into the sixth, USAO was able to capture a 17-16 lead after bringing in five more runs. After holding the Falcons scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, the Drovers added three more insurance runs to extend the lead to 20-16 in the seventh inning.In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Falcons tightened the score to 20-17 with a solo-homer, prior to Brock Henderson recording the final two outs of the game. As a team, the Drovers used 23 hits to score their 20 runs, and seven different players recorded multiple hits in the contest.Colton Bensch (SR/Mustang, OK) and Callen Golloway each had huge performances, tallying four hits apiece. Bensch finished 4-5 with a triple, three runs scored, and one run batted in, while Golloway went 4-6 with a homerun, three runs scored, and a pair of RBI's.Gage Gaunt had a very productive day at the dish, finishing 3-7 with a pair of homeruns, three runs scored, and six runs batted in. Peyton McDowall (JR/Cibolo, TX) also showed off some power, blasting a solo-homerun as he concluded 3-5 with five runs scored. Luis Pelayo (SR/Santa Cruz, Aruba) went 3-6 with three RBI's, while Brandon Shumway (SR/Chickasha, OK) concluded 3-5 with a double, three runs scored, and two runs batted in.Brock Henderson recorded a pair of singles, along with two runs scored and one run batted in. Jake Womack went 1-4 with a double and two RBI's.Adam Day (SO/Glen Rose, AR) earned the victory on the mound, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing zero runs and he struck out two batters. Brock Henderson earned his second save of the season as he closed out the final 2.0 innings. WHAT'S NEXT?On Thursday, March 17, the Drovers aim to extend their win-streak to seven as they make the short trip to OKC to begin a three-game series against No. 6 Oklahoma City University. Following Thursday's nine-inning contest, the series will shift to Bill Smith Ballpark on Saturday for a double-header, beginning at 1:00 PM CT.   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