NAIA
[Baseball] Moraga Shines as No. 3 USAO Wins 16th in a Row
WICHITA, Kan. – The No. 3 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (18-1, 6-0 SAC) extended its win-streak to 16 games with a 4-1 victory at Friends University (14-13, 4-4 KCAC). During USAO's win-streak, they have outscored their opponents 141-36.The non-conference match-up was a pitcher's dual for the first seven innings of the contest, but the Drovers used a late push to put the game away.USAO was able to strike first with a run in the top of the third inning, but the score remained 1-0 until the top of the eighth inning. In the eighth, the Drovers added three insurance runs to take a 4-0 lead into the ninth. The Falcons scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it was too little, too late for the home team. Adam Moraga (JR/Tucson, AZ) pitched the first 7.1 innings for USAO and he was sensational once again. Moraga did not allow a run as he struck out 10 batters to improve his record to 2-0. This season, Moraga owns a 1.46 earned run average and he has struck out 27 batters in 24.2 innings pitched. The transfer from Pima CC has pitched into at least the seventh inning in each of his last three starts, and he has struck out 19 batters in his last 14.1 innings pitched.Moraga was relieved by Edgar Cuevas (SR/Bronx, NY) with one out in the eighth inning, and Cuevas induced two quick outs to end the scoreless inning. Ricardo Velez (SR/Lajas, Puerto Rico) struck out two batters in the ninth to close out the game.As a team, USAO strung together eight hits, from eight different players. Joey Pena (JR/Mustang, OK) concluded the win 1-for-2 with a run scored and a run batted in, while Ian Laureano (SR/Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) and Andres Romero (SR/Valencia, Venezuela) each went 1-for-3 with a double, run scored, and a run batted in. Luis Pelayo (SR/Santa Cruz, Aruba) extended his hit-streak to nine games, while Cristian Laboy (SR/Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) hit-safely for the sixth straight game. Gus Wilson (JR/Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada), Colton Bensch (SO/Mustang, OK), and Isaac Raab (JR/Port Huron, MI) each hit singles.The Drovers have been tremendous on the mound and at the plate through the first 19 games of the season. USAO currently owns the NAIA's best team earned run average (1.89), best team opponent batting average (.168), 7th best team batting average (.345), and they rank 14th in runs scored per game (8.67).The Drovers will be back in action on Thursday, March 12 when they head to Muskogee, Okla. to face Bacone College. The non-conference double-header is scheduled for first-pitch at 1:00 PM.