Drovers Avoid Sweep

SHAWNEE - After two one-run losses, USAO's Matt Mallory pitched a four-hitter as the Drovers vented a little frustration with an 11-1 win over Oklahoma Baptist in the series finale Sunday.

Mallory improved to 4-3 on the season after allowing only one earned run while striking out four batters. The senior has been solid on the mound as of late, but his record doesn’t show it after losing one-run games to No. 10 Lubbock Christian and to No. 2 Oklahoma City earlier in the season.

After losing game one 1-0 and game two 6-7, USAO pounded out hit after hit in the finale. All nine batters had at least one hit, and eight Drovers posted at least one RBI. Junior Ryan Birney and sophomore Brandt Lierle led the team with two hits each as USAO jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings.

OBU matched USAO’s run in the third inning, but the mercy rule was called into effect after USAO scored three unanswered runs in the sixth inning.

USAO moves to 19-21-1 on the season and 6-9 in the league. By avoiding the sweep the Drovers stayed one game ahead of the Bison in the league standings, but losing two of three means USAO will need to match OBU’s wins down the stretch to stay in fourth place.

The Drovers still have a chance at third place in the SAC standings with six games remaining against St. Gregory’s and Northwestern Oklahoma. Currently, SNU is in third place with Wayland Baptist and OCU remaining.

USAO starts down the home stretch of its schedule at 2 p.m. Thursday in Shawnee against SGU. Saturday, the Drovers host a doubleheader against SGU beginning at 1 p.m. The regular season finale will be at Bill Smith Ballpark at 1:30 p.m. against NWOSU on April 28.

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