ADA, Okla. – SWOSU and East Central played a pair of extra inning games on Saturday to conclude the conference series, with the Bulldogs winning the first game 5-3 and dropping the finale 7-6.
Despite the split, SWOSU earns the series win 2-1 thanks to a win on Friday in the series opener. They have now won three of their last four GAC series and will return home next weekend to host Southeastern in more league action.
GAME ONE – SWOSU 5, ECU 3 (11 innings)
Nate Postlethwait gave the Dawgs a competitive start on the mound to begin the day, allowing three runs in 6.2 innings of work.
Grant Ewy and
Ernesto Hidrogo did not allow a run in relief for the remaining 4.1 innings, with Ewy picking up the decision victory and Hidrogo the save.
Both sides had opportunities in the form of baserunners throughout the game but left a combined 17 on-base in the contest.
ECU starting pitcher Bryan Terry threw 10.0 innings and managed to keep the SWOSU scoring offense in check for most of the game. The Dawgs notched 11 hits against Terry but could never get the timely hit(s) needed to get him removed from the game.
Tied 3-3 in the 11th, Terry was finally pulled after walking the first two batters of the inning.
Tylor Richey, pinch running for
Enzo Bonventre, eventually scored the go-ahead run following a wild pitch.
Alex Rice then added a run with a sacrifice fly.
GAME TWO – ECU 7, SWOSU 6 (8 innings)
Alex Rice had a strong game hitting in the finale, finishing 3-4 with four RBI. In extra innings, he put the Dawgs ahead with an RBI single and SWOSU then needed just three outs on defense to close out the game.
The final out never came though as ECU took advantage of a Bulldog defensive error and added three hits, including the walk-off game winner, in the bottom half.
Five pitchers saw action, including
Grant Ewy who got the start. He pitched in all three games of the series and gave SWOSU one inning to begin game three. Ewy gave way to
Dakota Jones who threw the next three innings, followed by
Philip Sanders and
Rafael Perez-Guzman who split the fifth and finally
Ernesto Hidrogo who pitched the remaining 2.1 innings.