Drovers Fall in Final Frame

BETHANY – A furious six-run seventh inning rally turned out not to be enough as Southern Nazarene scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to down USAO 7-6 Wednesday afternoon at Cypert Field.

The University of Science and Arts’ first game ever in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament ended with the team falling into the losers bracket and having to play No. 3 Oklahoma City at noon on Thursday.

Sophomore Nate Hammons went the distance in his first postseason start giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits while striking out seven batters. But the two runs that made the difference for SNU will leave a bad taste in any Drovers’ mouth for a long time.

In the second inning SNU’s Brent Hardin doubled in Stevie Lewis for a 2-0 lead. Then Hardin not only stole third base but – in a move that is extremely rare for college baseball – stole home, too, giving the home team a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

In the sixth inning the Crimson Storm posted two more runs when Hammons caught Hardin trying to steal second base. Hardin was thrown out to end the inning but not before Lewis scored from third base giving SNU a 6-0 lead.

Cody Hines turned the tide with one swing, though, to start the seventh inning. The junior from Dover mashed his team-leading sixth home run of the season over the right field wall, and all of the sudden USAO came to life.

Scott Ylda and Joe Burnell drew walks, and Louie Romero was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After Ylda was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice, Joel Atchley drew a walk to score Burnell.

Sophomore Brandt Lierle hit his team-leading 13th double of the season driving in Romero and Bryan Jones as USAO cut the deficit to 6-4. Adam Crosbie took one for the team – right in the middle of the back – to load the bases again, and Hines collected his second and third RBIs of the inning when he doubled in Atchley and Lierle to tie the score at 6-6.

The score was still tied in the ninth when SNU’s Lewis was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single that should have been a sacrifice bunt. A sacrifice bunt moved the winning run to third base. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, SNU’s Brian Madden, who finished 0-for-4 on the day, drove in the game winner on a sacrifice fly.

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