Drovers Launch Five Homers as they Sweep Double-Header Against #15 Bellevue

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Friday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (8-5, 0-0 SAC) bared frigid temperatures and swept the double-header against No. 15 ranked Bellevue University (1-5, 0-0 NSAA). The Drovers began the series with a thrilling 9-8 extra-inning victory, followed by a 7-5 triumph in the second game of the day.

With the sweep the Drovers improve to 14-5 against the Bruins since 2017.

• GAME 1 

The series opener got off to a rocky start for both teams, especially on defense early on, with both teams committing several errors within the first few innings. Bellevue saw early results on offense and took a 3-0 lead after scoring one run in the first, third, and fourth innings.

However, the Drovers answered with three unanswered runs of their own to tie the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth. USAO's first run came in the bottom of the fourth when Devin Alvarez drove in Boone Lasater with a single to center field. The Drovers added two more runs an inning later on Ben Bach's two-run home run over the left field wall. 

Bellevue reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth with one run, but once again USAO rallied to take over the lead. The Drovers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth on Christopher Martinez's two-run double, prior to extending their advantage to 6-4 in the seventh on Gunnar Hansen's solo-homer.

USAO claimed what seemed to be a commanding 8-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth on Bach's two-run double. However, the Bruins rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth to force extra innings with the score knotted at 8-8. 

In extra innings, the Drovers held the Bruins scoreless in the top of the tenth, before the walk-off run was driven in by Gunnar Hansen in the bottom half of the inning. 

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 13 hits and reached on eight walks, while the Bruins tallied 10 hits and drew two walks. Both defenses were uncharacteristically bad in the series opener, with USAO committed four fielding errors, in comparison to Bellevue's two fumbles on defense. 

Brian Ereu made the start on the mound for USAO and delivered 6.0 innings of work, allowing only two earned runs on five hits, and he struck out five batters.

Ryan Cullinane relieved Ereu for the next 0.2 innings, prior to handing the ball off the Tristan Perry for 1.1 innings. Rob Schmidt earned the win as he surrendered only one run in 2.0 innings, and he struck out three batters.

The Drover offense was led by a pair of three-hit performances from Ben Bach and Gunnar Hansen in the middle of the batting order. Bach concluded 3-6 with a double, a home run, and four runs batted in. Hansen finished 3-6 with first homer of the year and two runs batted in. 

Corey Morro had a solid game at the plate, going 2-5 with a pair of runs scored. 

Gage Ninness went 1-4 with a pair of walks and a pair of runs, while Christopher Martinez went 1-5 with a walk, a double, and two runs batted in. 

Devin Alvarez was very efficient at getting on base, going 1-2 with three walks, a run scored, and a run batted in. Ian Ortiz and Ricky Requejo each went 1-4 with singles. 

• GAME 2 

The Drovers once again found themselves trailing after a couple of innings, but once again they would overcome the deficit and hang on for a hard-fought victory. 

The Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead with one run in each of the first two innings. However, the Drovers would take over the lead with a three-run rally in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Ben Bach's second home run of the day. 

Bellevue pulled the score even at 3-3 in the top of the fourth with a solo-homer. 

USAO quickly broke the tie and claimed a 5-3 advantage with one run in each of the next two innings. The run in the fourth came on Gage Ninness' RBI-single, followed by a solo home run from Peyton McDowall in the fifth.

The Bruins once again knotted the score with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, prior to Christopher Martinez launching the go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom half of the sixth. Julian Pokorny tossed a scoreless seventh inning to close out USAO's second win of the afternoon.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced nine hits and reached on six walks, while the Bruins tallied eight hits and drew three walks. Bellevue was perfect on defense, and USAO committed one of fielding error.

Kyler Denton got the start on the mound for the Drovers and pitched the opening 5.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, and he struck out two batters. Megumi Fukuda was credited with the win as he pitched 0.2 innings scoreless innings. Pokorny earned his first save of the season as he slammed the door on the Bruins in the seventh.

USAO's offense was led by a pair of two-hit performances from Gage Ninness and Peyton McDowall. Ninness finished 2-4 with a pair of runs batted in, while McDowall went 2-4 with his third homer of the season, and 47^th of his tremendous career as a Drover. 

Christopher Martinez concluded 1-3 with a homer and two runs batted in, while Ben Bach went 1-4 with his fourth homer of the season. 

Corey Morro, Ian Ortiz, and Ricky Requejo each singled in game two.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Bruins will conclude the three-game series on Saturday, February 15. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT at Bill Smith Ballpark.

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