South OKC News

Sunday afternoon, the No. 19 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (10-6, 0-0 SAC) obliterated McPherson College (6-6, 0-0 KCAC) in the series finale. The Drovers closed out the series with an impressive 17-6 triumph, clinching a 2-1 advantage in the series.

With the win, the Drovers have emerged victorious in six of their last seven games, and they have outscored their opponents 72-33 in that span. Prior to the start of the season, it was widely speculated that USAO would be a good offensive team, but few would have predicted that the Drovers would be quite so potent, averaging a staggering 8.3 runs, 16 games into the season.

After a scoreless first inning, the Drovers took the lead emphatically, scoring four runs in the bottom of the second. USAO added one more run in the third inning, followed by a seven-run outburst in the fourth to hold a comfortable 12-0 lead.

Science & Arts managed to add four insurance runs in the fifth, but the Bulldogs began to rally and scored three runs in the top of the sixth. USAO responded with their final run in the bottom of the sixth to hold a 17-3 lead going into the seventh. 

McPherson scored their final three runs in the top of the seventh, but it wasn't enough to extend the game, as it was called early due to the "mercy rule."

Reed Butz improved his record to 2-1 with a tremendous performance on the mound. Butz struck out six batters in six innings of work.

Boone Lasater delivered one inning of relief to close out the game. 

As a team, the Drovers produced 16 hits, along with reaching base on five walks and three Bulldog errors.

Four different Drovers recorded multiple hits in the win. Nick Fleckenstein and Gage Gaunt each contributed a trio of hits. Fleckenstein concluded 3-5 with a run scored and a pair of runs batted in, while Gaunt finished 3-4 with a walk, a double, a homerun, three runs scored, and one RBI.

Peyton McDowall and Christopher Martinez each accounted for a pair of hits. McDowall continued to swing a hot-bat, going 2-4 with a pair of homers, three runs scored, and five runs batted in. In the three-game series, McDowall went 6-11 (.545) with three homeruns, five runs scored, and 10 runs batted in.

Martinez extended his hit-streak to eight as he concluded 2-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and three runs batted in.

Gabriel Arroyo went 1-3 with a pair of walks, two runs scored and two RBI's, and Ryan Duncan closed the day 1-3 with a stolen base, two runs scored, and a RBI.

Will Hoch and Gunnar Hansen each singled, scored, and drove in a run. Gavin Machado blasted a double as he finished 1-3 with a walk. Luke Lewis singled in his only at bat of the game.

Original source can be found here