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Box Score 2
ADA, Okla. – The crucial GAC series between SWOSU and East Central started with a 12-inning thriller that went the way of the Tigers, but SWOSU rebounded for a 4-2 victory in the nightcap to split the doubleheader.
East Central 2, SWOSU 1 (12 inn.)Box Score Jonathan Johnson pitched a complete game in the opener, allowing just eight hits in nearly 12 innings of action but an unearned run in the bottom of the 12th inning allowed the Tigers the victory. SWOSU scored to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI groundout by
Jiro Morales but that would be their only run of the game.
ECU got on the board with one run in the bottom of the eighth inning to force extras and held the Bulldogs to just one hit in the final four innings of the game. In the bottom of the 12th, the Tigers got their first two runners on base and eventually loaded the bases on an intentional walk following a wild pitch. A single back up the middle on the next at-bat allowed the Tigers to earn the walkoff win.
Johnson was tagged with the hard-luck loss after pitching 11.1 innings and allowing eight hits and just one earned run. It was his seventh complete game of the season, but he falls to 5-4 on the year. The SWOSU offense was held in check by a trio of Tiger pitchers who limited the Dawgs to just five hits.
SWOSU 4, East Central 2Box Score SWOSU scored one run in the second and three in the third to grab control against the Tigers in game two. An RBI single by
Tyler Rapp got the first run before
Brandon Ruiz led off the third inning with a solo home run to make it 2-0.
Jiro Morales then came through with a two-run double with the bases loaded, scoring
JR Head and
Kale Thaxton to put the Dawgs on top 4-0.
Ethan Davis held East Central at bay except for a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Davis allowed just seven hits and two runs in the complete-game effort which upped his record to 6-3 for the year.
SWOSU is now 20-17 (12-11 GAC) on the year heading into the series finale on Saturday. The Bulldogs are tied with ECU in conference play, meaning the winner of Saturday's game will have the edge on earning the final spot in the Great American Conference Tournament.
