NAIA
[Baseball] #12 Drovers Remain Perfect Against OPSU with Sweep in Goodwell
GOODWELL, Okla. – Friday and Saturday, the No. 12 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (24-8, 14-4 SAC) extended its win-streak to five, with a series sweep at Oklahoma Panhandle State University (12-25, 4-11 SAC). On Friday, the Drovers opened the series with a 12-2 victory, followed by a 16-5 performance in game two. Science & Arts clinched the sweep with a 6-4 triumph on Saturday afternoon.With the sweep, the Drovers improve to 17-0 all-time against the Aggies, a series which dates back to 2018. GAME 1 – The Drovers caught fire offensively early on and never let up as they cruised to a 12-2 win in the series opener. USAO wasted no time taking the lead, striking for a trio of runs in the top of the first inning, followed by a pair in the second. In the fourth inning, the Drovers extended their lead to 8-0, courtesy of Brock Henderson (JR/Chickasha, OK)'s two-run homer, as well as Jake Womack (SR/Chickasha, OK)'s solo shot.Science & Arts extended its lead to double digits with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning.The Aggies scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, cutting their deficit to 10-2. However, the Drovers responded with another pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, extending the lead to 12-2.Drew Shaver (JR/Sante Fe, TX) got the start on the mound for the Drovers and earned his seventh win of the season with yet another strong performance. In 5.1 innings pitched, Shaver allowed just two earned runs on four hits and he struck out seven batters.Sean Craig (SR/Daly City, CA) delivered 1.2 scoreless innings in relief, and he also struck out one batter.Offensively, USAO was led by Gage Gaunt (SO/Clinton, OK)'s perfect performance at the dish, going 5-5 with two doubles, five runs scored, and two runs batted in. Peyton McDowall (JR/Cibolo, TX) also caught fire at the plate, going 4-5 with a double and a RBI. Luis Pelayo (SR/Santa Cruz, Aruba) contributed a 3-5 performance that included a double, one run scored, and two RBI's. Brock Henderson and Jake Womack each concluded with a pair of hits and a homerun. Henderson finished 2-4 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, while Womack went 2-5 with two runs and two RBI's. Gabriel Arroyo (SO/Arecibo, Puerto Rico) had a good game, going 2-4 with a walk and a run batted in. Joey Pena (SR/Mustang, OK) singled and drove in a pair of runs, while Luke Lewis (SO/Ft. Cobb, OK) singled and scored twice. GAME 2 – The Drovers used a massive second inning to propel themselves to a dominant victory in the second game of the series. After a scoreless first inning, the Drovers struck for 10 runs in the second inning. USAO added one more run in the top of the fourth, prior to allowing the Aggies to retaliate with three runs in the home half of the inning.USAO bounced right back with five runs in the top of the fifth, extending their lead to 16-3. OPSU scored their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.As a team, the Drovers strung together 12 hits in the blowout victory, led four multi-hit performances. Peyton McDowall and Will Hoch (Oklahoma City, OK) each contributed three-hit performances with one homerun a piece. McDowall concluded 3-4 with his seventh homerun of the year, a pair of doubles, three runs scored, and three runs batted in, while Hoch went 3-4 with his second homer of the year, along with two runs and four RBI's. Joey Pena blasted a pair of homeruns in a 2-5 performance, that included two runs scored and four RBI's. Luis Pelayo went 2-4 with a double, three runs scored, and three runs batted in.Brock Henderson went 1-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, while Brandon Shumway (SR/Chickasha, OK) went 1-3 with a run. Josh Harrel (JR/Cashion, OK) delivered 5.0 innings on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits, and he struck out six batters. Jack Junker (JR/Bandera, TX) and Hagen Earls (JR/Summerfield, OK) combined for four more strikeouts over the final 2.0 innings. GAME 3 – In the hard-fought series finale, the Drovers used an eighth inning rally to claim a 6-4 victory, to remain undefeated against the Aggies.The Drovers took an early lead with one run in each of the first two innings, followed by a two more in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning. However, the Aggies fought their way back in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game with a four-run inning.In the top of the eighth inning, the Drovers were able to regain the lead with a pair of runs.In his first start since being selected as the SAC Pitcher of the Week last week, Kaden Alexander (JR/Broken Arrow, OK) was solid on the mound once again. In 5.0 innings of work, Alexander surrendered just two earned runs on six hits.Brett Lorah (SR/Elgin, OK), Sean Craig, and Hagen Earls relieved Alexander. After Lorah suffered some struggles, Craig and Earls kept the Aggie bats quiet. Craig struck out three batters and did not allow a run in 2.2 innings, while Earls struck out two batters in the ninth inning.The Drover offense produced nine hits and inherited four free bases on walks. Luis Pelayo, Peyton McDowall, and Gabriel Arroyo each delivered a pair of hits in the finale. Pelayo finished 2-4 with a walk and a run batted in. McDowall went 2-3 with a walk and two runs scored, while Arroyo concluded 2-4 with a double, one run scored, and one run batted in. Gage Gaunt contributed a 1-4 performance that included a double, a walk, scored twice. Brock Henderson and Luke Lewis each singled. WHAT'S NEXT?The Drovers return to action on Tuesday, April 12 as they play a non-conference game at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (NCAA DII). First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM in Weatherford, Okla. 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