Holding off a ninth-inning rally, the University of Science and Arts beat No. 20 Oklahoma Baptist 10-9 on the road Saturday for its first Sooner Athletic Conference win and OBU's first SAC loss.

Improving its winning streak to six games, USAO stranded OBU's tying run at third base as the Drovers ended the Bison's 14 game winning streak.

USAO zapped Bison starter Chad Rhoades (5-2) with his worst outing of the season, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 13 hits while striking out eight and walking two in seven-plus innings.

With the Drovers leading 1-0 in the bottom of the second, the Bison tied the game with an RBI single by Rett Terrell.

USAO took the lead with a two-run third inning with two costly Bison errors. The lead swelled to 4-1 with an RBI double by Kyle Bradburry.

The Bison cut it back to 4-3 in the fifth on an RBI triple by Josh LaTour and an RBI grounder by Kip Keith.

OBU took its only lead of the game in the sixth on a two-run single by Dustin Hughes.

The Drovers tied the game in the seventh on a Adam Crosbie home run and used a four-run eighth to pull away, getting two Bison errors and RBI doubles by Ryan Brincat and Bradburry and an RBI single by Grady Wood.

USAO reached reliever Bryan Tapley for what proved to be an important and controversial run in the top of the ninth. Designated hitter Brincat was allowed to re-enter the game after being pinch-ran for earlier and
doubled home a run.

USAO's second reliever Pat Bridges gave up a double to OBU's Danny Ruberte and a triple to LaTour which made it a one-run game.

Bridges was able to strike out Kip Keith to end the rally.

The Drovers improved to 12-9 on the year, and the teams will finish its three-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader at Chickasha High School beginning at 1 p.m.

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