Weatherford, Okla. – The SWOSU Athletic Complex saw good baseball all day long on Saturday when the Bulldogs battled No. 16-ranked Henderson State in a doubleheader to close out the GAC series. The two teams split the twinbill, but a Friday victory in game one allowed SWOSU to win the series 2-1.
The Dawgs won the first game on Saturday 6-3, before dropping the nightcap in extra innings 10-8. SWOSU's winning run was thrown out at the plate in the seventh inning, and they went on to fall in the eighth.
Action continues this Tuesday on the road against Cameron in more midweek non-conference action.
GAME ONE – SWOSU 6, #16 HSU 3
Scoring began in the fourth inning with a three-run burst by SWOSU courtesy of RBI singles from
Taylan Mullins-Ohm and
Marc Gonzales.
After a solo shot by the Reddies got one run back the next inning,
JC Reed responded with a two-run home run to push the lead out to 5-1.
HSU got single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to chip away, but walked in a run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth.
Nate Postlethwait (W, 4-3) gave a strong start on the bump by throwing 7.1 innings and striking out six. He gave way to
Grant Ewy out of the bullpen who pitched the rest of the way to earn the save – his first of the season.
Cade Hamilton, Mullins-Ohm, and Gonzales all tallied two hits apiece in the lineup.
GAME TWO - #16 HSU 10, SWOSU 8 (8 innings)
After scoring the first run of the game in the first inning, SWOSU had to play from behind after the Reddies plated five in the second. For the remainder of regulation, the Dawgs chipped away and found a way to extend the game.
Fast forward to the fifth inning, Henderson State grabbed a 7-6 lead following a two-run home run.
Down to their final out in the seventh inning with runners on second and third,
Alex Rice delivered a single through the left side that plated the tying run, but
Marc Gonzales was thrown out at the plate representing the game winning run.
In extra innings, the Reddies scored three runs in the eighth inning and appeared to be in control. That was, until, the new HSU pitcher walked the bases loaded with no outs to make things interesting.
Enzo Bonventre drove in a run following a sacrifice fly, but a ground ball double play the next batter ended the game and spoiled the comeback.
Five arms threw in the game for the Dawgs.
Ernesto Hidrogo (L, 2-3) was handed the decision loss in the bullpen.
Fortier and Rice notched two hits apiece on offense. Hamilton finished 1-for-3 with an RBI triple that tied the game at 5-5 in the fifth inning.
