NAIA
[Baseball] No. 3 USAO Continues Strong Start with 11-1 Win Against Friends
CHICKASHA, Okla. – The No. 3 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (7-1, 0-0 SAC) opened the weekend with a dominant 11-1 win against Friends University (5-7, 0-0 KCAC). Fridays's victory extended the Drovers' win-streak to five games, and it also marked the fifth time in the last seven games that USAO has scored at least 11 runs.The Falcons got off to a solid start and pushed across one run in the opening inning, but that is the only offense they'd be able to put together against Matt Merrill (SO/Tulsa, OK). The Drovers were able to score 11 unanswered runs and use stellar pitching to rout the Falcons.Merrill improved his record to 3-0, as he went seven innings, allowing zero earned runs and one hit, and he struck out 10 batters. On the season, Merrill owns a 1.06 earned run average, and he has struck out 31 batters in 17.0 innings pitched.Offensively, USAO was led by Colton Bensch (SO/Mustang, OK)'s perfect night at the dish. Bensch concluded 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and a walk. Gus Wilson (JR/Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada) also had a superb night at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBI's, three runs scored, two walks, and a stolen base. Brock Henderson (SO/Chickasha, OK) contributed a 2-for-4 performance that included a pair of RBI's and a pair of runs scored. Luis Pelayo (SR/Santa Cruz, Aruba) went 2-for-4 with a double, stolen base, and a trio of runs scored. Joey Pena (JR/Mustang, OK) went 2-for-4 with a run batted in, while Ian Laureano (SR/Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Isaac Raab (JR/Port Huron, MI) closed 0-for-3 with a run batted in and a run scored, and Brandon Shumway (JR/Chickasha, OK) added a pair of walks and a pair of runs batted in.The Drovers will be back in action at Bill Smith Ballpark with a double-header on Saturday, February 15 against Friends University and Hastings College. USAO will face Friends at 12:00 PM, followed by a match-up with Hastings at 5:30 PM.