USAO Splits Opening Day Double Header at OLLU

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Friday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (1-1, 0-0 SAC) opened the 2025 season with a double-header split at Our Lady of the Lake University (1-1, 0-0 RRAC). The Drovers were dealt a 3-2 loss in the series opener, followed by a thrilling 10-3 triumph in game two.

With the split, the Drovers are now 16-10 all-time against the Saints, a series which dates to January of 2016.

-GAME 1-

After the season opener began with two scoreless innings until OLLU struck for a trio of runs in the bottom of the third. USAO began to trim away at their deficit with one run in the top of the fourth, followed by one more in the top of the fifth. Neither team was able to push across any more runs over the final two innings. 

As a team, USAO produced eight hits, while OLLU only tallied three hits. Both teams committed one fielding error. The Drovers drew two walks, while issuing three free passes.

USAO's offense was led by a pair of two-hit performances from Christopher Martinez and Jaden Wiley. Martinez went 2-4 with a run batted in, while Wiley went 2-2.

Devin Alvarez concluded 1-2 with a walk. Gunnar Hansen and Ian Ortiz each went 1-3, followed by Gage Ninness going 1-4 with a run scored. 

Brian Ereu got the start on the mound for the Drovers and delivered 3.0 innings of work, surrendering two earned runs on two hits, and he struck out two batters. Kyler Denton produced 3.0 innings of scoreless relief out of the bullpen. Denton allowed only one hit, and he struck out three batters.

-GAME 2-

The Drovers wasted no time taking the lead in the second game, bringing across one run in the top of the first inning. However, the Saints managed to pull the score even with a run in the bottom of the first.

The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the third when OLLU took a 2-1 lead. The lead was short-lived as USAO retaliated with a run in the top of the fourth, once again pulling the score even at 2-2. 

The Saints claimed the lead once more in the bottom of the fourth, pushing across one run. Down, but not out, USAO responded with a four-run rally in the top of the fifth inning, followed by three more in the sixth to control a 9-3 lead. The Drovers added one more run in the top of the seventh inning, prior to holding the Saints scoreless in the bottom half of the seventh to wrap up their first win of the 2025 campaign.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 12 hits and reached on eight walks, while the Saints only tallied six hits and drew five walks. USAO was perfect on defense, while OLLU fumbled the ball twice on defense. 

Four different Drovers recorded multiple hits in the win, led by Gunnar Hansen's three-hit performance, which included four runs batted in. Corey Morro was a perfect 2-2 at the plate, recording a double, three runs scored, and he drew a pair of walks. Christopher Martinez concluded 2-4 with a walk and two runs scored, while Peyton McDowall went 2-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in. 

Jaden Wiley closed the game 1-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and a run batted in, while Gage Ninness went 1-3 with two walks, a run scored, and a run batted in. 

Ben Bach went 1-4 with a RBI.

Tyson Noel got the start on the mound for the Drovers, delivering 3.0 innings of work, allowing two earned runs on one hit, and he struck out two batters.

Naton Herchock allowed one run in 0.2 innings of relief for Noel.

Tristan Perry earned the win as he pitched the next 2.1 innings, surrendering no runs on three hits, and he struck out one batter. Ryan Cullinane delivered a scoreless seventh inning and struck out one batter in the process.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Saints will wrap up the opening weekend with the series finale on Saturday, January 25 at Missions Baseball Academy in San Antonio, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM CT. 

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