BETHANY, Okla. – The SWOSU Bulldogs baseball team won their three-game Great American Conference series against Southern Nazarene this weekend, including a run-rule win in the series finale on Sunday.
 
After splitting a double header with SNU Saturday, SWOSU won the rubber match and the series 2-1 against SNU. The Bulldogs now are 6-4 and are 5-4 in GAC play. They return to the diamond, 2 p.m. Friday at home against Ouachita Baptist for a three-game series.
 
Game 1: SWOSU 14, SNU 3
 
SWOSU scored five runs in the second and ninth innings. They scored six runs in the first two innings and controlled the game from there on out. In the top of the second inning, SWOSU scored five runs as Drew White hammered a home run over the left field fence and on this play, Zach Baxley and Miguel Soto scored.
 
SNU scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but trailed 8-3. SWOSU put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth as Zach Baxley hit a home run over the center field fence and Alex Bedard scored.
 
Baxley had himself a game, going 4-for-6 at the plate, had four RBIs and scored two runs. Taylan Mullins-Ohm went 4-for-6 and he scored two runs. Griffin Larsen was 3-of-5 from the plate, had three RBIs and scored three runs.
 
Nate Postlethwait was on the mound for the Bulldogs and he pitched a great game. He recorded seven strikeouts. Ryan Hildner came into relief in the bottom of the eighth inning, and he got two strikeouts for the Bulldogs and gave up no hits. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Matt Milner came into close for the Bulldogs. He gave up a hit, but the defense behind him got the three outs to win the first game of the series.
 
Game 2: SNU 8, SWOSU 2
 
The game was polar opposite and SNU snagged its first win of the season. SNU scored all of their runs in the first two innings, scoring six in the bottom of the first and two in the bottom of the second. Pitching wild pitches was a problem and the first run was scored off a wild pitch thrown while four of the six runs scored by SNU were unearned.
 
The Bulldogs got the sticks going in the top of the fifth inning and scored their first run of the ballgame when Bedard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Mullins-Ohm scored from third base.
 
Needing a big rally in the top of the seventh inning to win, SWOSU scored just one run as Baxley hit a single down the left field line and Bedard scored from second base. SWOSU only had two RBIs, but had nine hits in this game. Soto and White each went 2-for-4 at the plate. Keyshaun Smith went 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
On the mound for SWOSU in this one was Noah Chapin and he only pitched for an inning. He got two strikeouts, but gave up six runs. In the second inning, Chris Goldston pitched for two innings, recording three strikeouts. Pitching the rest of the way for SWOSU was Grant Ewy and he did not give up a single run, had two strikeouts and gave up zero hits.
 
Game 3: SWOSU 21, SNU 5 (7 inn.)
 
SWOSU was in control from the get go. They had a strong start with 11 runs in the first three innings. They scored six runs in the top of the second and four runs in the top of the third. SWOSU recorded 13 hits in the first three innings, two triples and Smith scored on a solo home run shot over the left field fence.
 
SWOSU continued to prove who the better baseball squad was, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth and top of the sixth. The Bulldogs were not finished as they tallied four more runs on the board in the top of the seventh with four base hits in this inning, giving SWOSU a 21-3 advantage.
 
SNU attempted to prolong the game and scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough and SWOSU won 21-5. SWOSU recorded 25 hits.
 
Bedard scored five runs and three RBI. He also went 5-for-6 at the plate. White had six RBIs and scored four runs. He went 4-for-5 at the plate. Soto had four hits, scored three runs and had three RBIs. He went 4-for-4 at the plate.
 
On the mound for the Bulldogs was Matt Hopkins and he pitched for 4.1 innings. He recorded two strikeouts, but gave up seven hits. Chase Hamilton came to relieve Hopkins. He threw two strikeouts, but gave up five hits.