WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Baseball concluded the opening series with Missouri Western on Sunday which began with the continuation from Saturday's nightcap and led into the regularly scheduled game four.
The Bulldogs fell 11-8 in game three before earning a series split in the finale thanks to a two out, bases loaded walk-off single which sent the Bulldogs into celebration mode.
SWOSU starts the year 2-2 and will host five more games in Weatherford coming up this week.
Game 3 – MWSU 11, SWOSU 8
The Bulldogs used a five-run third inning which included a three-run home run from Jackson Syring to jump out to a lead. They tacked on three more an inning later to lead 8-3 before the Griffons put up the game's final eight runs over the next two innings which included a disastrous sixth inning that saw MWSU plate six unearned runs.
Josh Fluet started on the mound and pitched 3.2 innings before giving way to the bullpen. He struck out three and walked three and allowed three runs – all unearned. Tyler Fortin suffered the loss in 2.0 innings of relief.
The offense had eight hits in the game, with eight separate players tallying one each. Aside from Syring's dinger, Geoff Marlow doubled as the other extra-base hit.
After play was suspended Saturday evening due to darkness, the game resumed Sunday at 1:30 following an hour and a half rain delay. The Bulldogs needed three runs in the final inning but a double play put SWOSU down in order to end the game.
Game 4 – SWOSU 3, MWSU 2
In the series finale, SWOSU weathered an early 2-0 deficit and eventually overtook the Griffons in walk-off fashion. Zane Leonard settled in after surrendering the two early runs and went on to throw 4.0 innings. He was relieved by Ernesto Hidrogo (W, 1-0) who threw the rest of the way. Hidrogo was solid, giving up just one hit and walking one to keep defensive innings quick and allow the offense to keep plugging away.
The bats finally broke through in the sixth inning after a Ty Eastwood infield single turned into more thanks to a throwing error. With him on second, Markus Coronado drove him in to cut the deficit in half.
SWOSU threatened in the eighth but could not get Kade Folmar home after he tripled in his pinch-hitting spot.
In the ninth, another pinch hitter came up huge after Geoff Marlow doubled to lead the inning off. Two walks eventually loaded the bases and with two outs, Caleb Clines got just enough of a bloop single to end the game.
