NAIA

[Baseball] Hot and Ready: #10 Drovers Extend Streak to a Dozen at Wayland Baptist

PLAINVIEW, Texas – Thursday afternoon, the No. 10 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (31-8, 16-4 SAC) extended their win-streak to 12 with a double-header sweep at Wayland Baptist University (23-19, 6-14 SAC). The Drovers used a late rally to pick up a 13-6 victory in the series opener, followed by a 7-6 triumph in game two.With the sweep, USAO has now won 16 of their last 17 games played.The Drovers improve to 35-13 all-time against the Pioneers, and they have emerged victorious in 18 consecutive meetings between the conference foes, dating back to May 9, 2016. GAME 1 – In the series opener, the Drovers used a late rally to claim their 11th victory in a row.The Pioneers captured an early lead, striking for one run in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Drovers immediately responded by scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the second. WBU once again took the lead as they pushed across two runs in the bottom half of the second inning.The lead was once again exchanged in the top of the third inning when USAO rallied for four runs to claim a 6-3 lead.The score remained 6-3 until the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Pioneers tied the game with a three-run homer. In the top of the seventh inning, the Drovers continued the theatrics by bringing in seven runs to take a commanding 13-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Drew Shaver (JR/Sante Fe, TX) got the start on the mound and pitched the opening 4.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, and he struck out four batters. Brett Lorah (SR/Elgin, OK) improved to 6-0 as he picked up the win in relief. The SAC reigning SAC Pitcher of the Week allowed three earned runs in 2.2 innings, and he fanned a pair of batters.The Drovers offense continued to produce at a high volume, pounding out 18 hits, coming from nine different players. USAO has scored at least 10 runs in eight of their last 16 games played. Brock Henderson (JR/Chickasha, OK) led the charge with a 4-5 performance at the plate, tallying a double and a run scored. A fellow Chickasha native, Brandon Shumway (SR/Chickasha, OK), finished 3-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and three runs batted in. Over the last six games, Shumway is batting 10-18 (.556), with three doubles, a triple, three walks, six runs scored, and nine runs batted in. Luis Pelayo (SR/Santa Cruz, Aruba) once again was powerful at the dish, going 2-4 with a solo-homerun and two runs scored. Peyton McDowall (JR/Cibolo, TX) concluded 2-4 with a double, a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI's, while Gabriel Arroyo (SO/Arecibo, Puerto Rico) went 2-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. Jake Womack (SR/Chickasha, OK) was the third Chickasha native to record multiple hits in the win, going 2-4 with a run and a RBI.Gage Gaunt (SO/Clinton, OK) tripled and drove in two runs, while Joey Pena (SR/Mustang, OK) and Will Hoch (Oklahoma City, OK) each added singles.  GAME 2 – The Drovers outlasted the Pioneers to capture a hard-fought 7-6 victory in the second game of the series. The Drovers captured the first lead of the game, rallying for a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. USAO extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning on Brock Henderson's fifth homerun of the season. The offense was not finished, striking for one more run prior to heading into the bottom of the third. The Pioneers used a pair of homeruns to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the home half of the third inning.The Drovers produced a trio of runs in the top of the fourth inning, but the Pioneers immediately responded with trio of their own to cut the deficit to 7-6.Hagen Earls (JR/Summerfield, OK) was stellar in relief and held WBU scoreless over the final three innings, allowing the Drovers to claim their second win of the day.Earls earned the win as he delivered 4.1 innings of work, allowing just one earned run while striking out three batters.Josh Harrel (JR/Cashion, OK) got the start on the mound and pitched the first 2.2 innings, striking out a pair of batters. As a team, the Drovers strung together 10 hits, with three players recording multi-hit performances. Joey Pena paced the offense going 3-3 with a walk and a run batted in. Brock Henderson and Gabriel Arroyo each continued to find success at the dish, knocking two hits apiece. Henderson finished 2-4 with a double, a homerun, two runs scored, and two runs batted in, while Arroyo finished 2-4 with a run scored. Henderson has recorded multiple hits in 11 of his last 20 games played, and Arroyo has accomplished the feat in five of his last 11 games. Gage Gaunt and Jake Womack each finished 1-4 with doubles and a run scored. Additionally, Womack drove in a run. Peyton McDowall finished 1-4, as he produced his 19th hit in the last 10 games played. Luke Lewis (SO/Ft. Cobb, OK) scored once and drove in a run. The Drovers red-hot offense has now scored seven or more runs in 13 of their last 17 games played. WHAT'S NEXT?The Drovers and Pioneers will return to action on Friday, April 22 for the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM 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