Box Score (html)
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – SWOSU Baseball scored the first two runs in Sunday's final game of the QuikTrip Classic, but played behind most of the game before a final-inning rally netted the Bulldogs a thrilling 10-8 victory over Ouachita Baptist.
The Bulldogs wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as
Dalton Daniels and
Christian Perez had back-to-back singles to start the game, setting both runners up to score on a
Haden Houska single to left center three batters later. SWOSU's 2-0 lead would be short lived, however, as SWOSU starter
Sawyer Barnard was unable to make it out of the first inning, allowing three hits and six runs in 0.2 innings of work. Barnard gave up three walks and had two errors behind him, making just two of the runs against him earned.
Taylor Weifenbach recorded the final out of the first inning and went on to face the next 19 OBU batters over 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits with four strikeouts. The consistency on the mound allowed the Bulldogs to cut into their deficit, scoring three runs on four hits in the fourth inning, including back-to-back doubles from
Korbin Polston and
Jacob Spring, which got SWOSU within one at 6-5 through four innings.
After OBU tacked on one run in the seventh inning,
Cole Wagner doubled to the left center gap to score
Zach Barton from second and again get the Bulldogs within one at 7-6. The Tigers were quick to respond in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of a SWOSU throwing error and using a squeeze play to add an insurance run, making it 8-6 heading to the ninth inning.
The gritty Bulldogs dug deep in the ninth inning, loading the bases with the first three batters of the inning before
Haden Houska singled, scoring Perez from third to get SWOSU within one.
Bryan Holt then reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Polston to score and tie the game.
Tyler Rapp then walked to again load the bases, but a
Nolan Barrientos fielder's choice got Spring forced out at the plate, leaving the Bulldogs with two outs and the bases still loaded.
That's when Wagner again stepped to the dish and delivered with a two-run single to shallow left field, scoring both Holt and Rapp before Barrientos was gunned out trying to advance to third on the play. With momentum on the side of the Bulldogs,
Ethan Davis struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth before inducing a flyout to right field to end the game.
Davis (1-0) pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit and one run, to pick up the victory.
SWOSU (2-4) finishes their weekend at the QuikTrip Classic 2-2 with two quality regional victories heading into Tuesday's home opener against West Texas A&M. The Bulldogs conclude a home-and-home set with the Buffs in a single, nine-inning game with first pitch at 1:00 pm from the Athletic Complex.
