Box Score
Box Score (html)
ADA, Okla. – After splitting a doubleheader on Friday, SWOSU and East Central took the field just once on Saturday and didn't decide a winner until the final play in the bottom of the ninth inning. ECU managed to push across the winning run as the Bulldogs attempted to turn a double play and they won the game 6-5 and the series 2-1.
Jacob Swigart got the start for SWOSU and allowed just three hits in six innings of work. All three hits he surrendered, however, were solo home runs in the bottom of the second inning, allowing ECU to build a 3-0 lead after two innings.
The Bulldogs offense hit its stride in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring all five of their runs in two frames.
Dietrick Turney singled and came around to score on an RBI double by
Brandon Ruiz and Dalton Daniel worked his way around and scored on an RBI groundout by
Kale Thaxton.
Within one run after five innings, SWOSU got going again with an RBI double by
Jiro Morales that scored
Chris Faulkner, which was followed by a
Jaden Chappell double that brought Morales in. Chappell then scored the third run of the inning on a throwing error by the ECU catcher, giving the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead.
Tyler Hampton entered the game in the bottom of the seventh with SWOSU leading 5-3 but ECU scored one run in each of the final three innings to earn the win. The Tigers leadoff batter in the bottom of the ninth inning walked, moved to second on a bunt and reached third on an infield single, setting the stage for the game's final play. Turney fielded a ground ball and flipped it to shortstop
Dalton Daniels who attempted to turn the double play, but the throw was not in time and the runner from third scored to win the game.
SWOSU finished with eight hits in the game, led by
Brandon Ruiz who finished 3-for-4 and was the only player with multiple hits. Hampton took the loss after relieving Swigart and allowing four hits and three runs in 2.2 innings.
The loss drops the Bulldogs to 20-18 on the year and 12-12 in Great American Conference action. They are now one-half game out of sixth in the standings, which is the cutoff point for qualifying for the GAC Tournament. SWOSU returns to action on Tuesday at Cameron for a midweek game in Lawton.
