NAIA

[Baseball] #14 Drovers Continue to Dominate Central Christian with Three-Game Sweep

MCPHERSON, Kan. – Friday and Saturday afternoon, the No. 14 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (19-7, 9-3 SAC) captured a 3-game sweep at Central Christian College (7-20, 1-8 SAC). With the wins, the Drovers improve to 12-0 all-time against the Tigers. USAO won Friday's game 16-0, followed by a 27-4 win in Saturday's first game and a 4-3 triumph in the series finale.Over the last eight games played, USAO has produced 105 runs scored. GAME 1 – After opening the game with two scoreless innings, the Drovers captured a 5-0 lead, highlighted by Luis Pelayo (SR/Santa Cruz, Aruba)'s three-run homer. The score remained 5-0 until the top of the sixth inning, when USAO's offense exploded for seven more runs. The offense continued to produce, adding four runs in the seventh to extend the lead to 16-0. The game was brought to a close after the bottom of the seventh inning due to the "mercy rule".Drew Shaver (JR/Sante Fe, TX) was tremendous on the mound, pitching a complete game shutout. Shaver allowed just three hits and he struck out five batters as he improved to 5-2 on the season. At the plate, the Drovers produced 15 hits from nine different players. Colton Bensch (SR/Mustang, OK) led the way, going 4-4 with a walk, a stolen base, a run scored, and four runs batted in. Luis Pelayo also delivered a huge performance, going 2-5 with a homerun, three runs scored, and four RBI's. Brock Henderson (JR/Chickasha, OK) finished 2-4 with a walk, two runs scored, and he drove in a run, while Joey Pena (SR/Mustang, OK) went 2-4 with a walk, a triple, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Jake Womack (SR/Chickasha, OK) concluded 1-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a RBI. Luke Lewis (SO/Ft. Cobb, OK) closed 1-3 with a pair of runs scored, and Brandon Shumway (SR/Chickasha, OK) went 1-4 with a run scored. Gage Gaunt (SO/Clinton, OK) and Peyton McDowall (JR/Cibolo, TX) each doubled and scored; Gaunt drove in one run, while McDowall brought in a pair. GAME 2 – The Drovers scored early and often in the first game of Saturday's double-header. USAO scored five times in the top of the fifth inning, followed by two runs in the second inning. The Tigers scored their first run in the bottom of the second inning. Science & Arts extended their lead to 13-1 with a 6-run third inning, prior to scoring once more in the fourth. CCC scored once more in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Drovers exploded for four runs in the sixth and nine in the seventh inning. The Tigers scored their third run in the sixth, followed by their final run in the seventh.Josh Harrel (JR/Cashion, OK) improved to 4-1 as he pitched 6.0 strong innings. Harrel allowed just two earned runs and he fanned seven batters. Adam Day (SO/Glen Rose, AR) struck out a pair of batters in the seventh inning.Brock Henderson delivered an incredible performance at the dish, going 4-4 with a pair of walks, a stolen base, six runs scored, two homeruns, and five runs batted in. Peyton McDowall concluded 3-5 with a pair of walks, a double, a homerun, two runs scored, and five RBI's. Joey Pena finished 3-4 with a walk, a double, three runs, and six runs batted in, while Jake Womack went 3-4 with a pair of walks, a pair of doubles, four runs scored, and three RBI's.Luis contributed a 2-4 performance that included a pair of walks, a double, three runs scored, and a pair of runs batted in. Luke Lewis went 1-3 with a pair of walks and a pair of runs, while Brandon Shumway closed 1-4 with a couple of walks, a double, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.Gage Gaunt concluded 1-5 with three runs scored, and Colton Bensch went 1-5 with a run scored. Callen Golloway (JR/Blanchard, OK) finished 1-2 with a RBI. GAME 3 – The series finale was far closer that the first two games, with the Drovers escaping with the 4-3 victory to close out the sweep. The Drovers captured an early lead with one run in the top of the first inning, but the Tigers immediately responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. CCC remained in the lead until the top of the fifth when USAO struck for a pair of runs. Central Christian tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, but the Drovers bounced right back to score the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh, prior to closing out the victory in the bottom of the seventh. Kaden Alexander (JR/Broken Arrow, OK) pitched the first 4.0 innings for USAO, allowing two earned runs on three hits, and he struck out four batters. Brett Lorah (SR/Elgin, OK) earned the victory as he pitched 2.0 innings of relief and he struck out five batters. Hagen Earls (JR/Summerfield, OK) earned his fourth save of the season as he delivered a scoreless seventh inning, and he struck out a pair of batters.The Drovers strung together seven hits to score their four runs. Luis Pelayo delivered a tremendous performance, going 3-3 with a homerun, a stolen base, a run scored, and two runs batted in. Brock Henderson continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored. Jake Womack finished 1-3 with two RBI's, while Joey Pena went 1-3 with a single.  WHAT'S NEXT?The Drovers will aim to stay hot as they open the series against Mid-America Christian University on Thursday, March 31 in Oklahoma City. First-pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM CT on the campus of MACU.     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