SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Bulldogs forced the rubber match against Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday with a 14-11 victory in game two but fell in a deciding game three 10-2 to conclude the series.
SWOSU returns to the field this weekend to host Southern Arkansas in continued conference play. Friday will feature the doubleheader portion of the series before Saturday concludes with the third and final game.
Game One – SWOSU 14, Oklahoma Baptist 11
The Dawgs used a five-run first inning and scored another eight through the final three frames to beat the Bison in a slugfest. SWOSU hit five home runs in the game, headed by Reece Burke who had two of them. Eight of SWOSU's 14 runs came courtesy of the longball. OBU had four home runs themselves – all solo shots.
OBU tied the game in the fifth inning with a four-run fourth and another run in the fifth. SWOSU's late-game surge allowed them to outscore their opponent since both sides plated runs from the seventh on.
Tied 6-6, Geoff Marlow and Campbell Sullivan homered, highlighting a five-run seventh that allowed the Dawgs to regain control. Home runs from Marco Barrera and Burke in the next two innings kept SWOSU on top.
Josh Fluet got the start on the mound and pitched into the fourth. Four arms made appearances from there. Grant Ewy replaced Fluet and provided the longest outing of any arm by getting into the seventh. Tyler Fortin was given the win with his appearance in the seventh.
Burke finished 3-5 on the day to lead a lineup that finished with 12 collectively. OBU, 14.
Game Two – Oklahoma Baptist 10, SWOSU 2
Jackson Syring's RBI double in the first inning and solo home run in the third had the Dawgs tied with Oklahoma Baptist 2-2 through three.
A five-run fifth by the Bison shifted momentum that never changed. A weather delay paused action in the bottom of the fifth for nearly two hours but did not help the cause as OBU went on to plate three more runs afterwards to seal the result.
Jackson Phillips was handed his second loss of the season. He went four innings before getting relieved by Tyler Leachner who pitched the final six outs.
Ty Eastwood and Reece Burke matched Syring with two hits. Both also doubled in the contest.
