SHAWNEE, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team traveled to Shawnee, Oklahoma for the opening game of the three-game GAC series, falling to the Bison Friday night.
The Tigers jumped on top first in inning one, starting with
Christian Whitaker doubling to right center to score
Tanner Collins before
Duncan Key sent one over the wall for the 3-0 lead.
The Bisons quickly answered back in the home half, though, tacking on 13 runs on eight hits to pull away early with a 13-3 lead.
ECU added three more runs in the second to cut the deficit down to seven after Key's 2 RBI single scored
Cooper Hunt and
Mason Glowacki for the first two runs, followed by an OBU throwing error that platted
Tanner Collins to bring the score to 13-6.
OBU continued to add on three runs in the second before exploding for nine runs on six hits in the third inning for a 25-7 advantage.
Nick Blankenship's sacrifice fly to right field drove home
Nolan Herchock in the top of the inning to bring the Tigers' score to seven.
The Tigers responded in the fourth with a 2 RBI single from
Michael Rosario scoring Key and Whitaker before
Cooper Hunt singled to plate
Britton Sperry. A Bison fielding error then allowed Hunt to score to trail 25-12.
After the Bisons put five more runs on the board in the fifth, the Tigers refused to back down in the seventh inning, collecting five runs on four hits.
Whitaker singled, followed by Key to plate Collins, then Sperry doubled to clear the bases for the third Tiger run of the inning. With two outs, Glowacki's double to right field scored two more runs, but that would be the end for ECU as OBU closed game one with a 30-17 win.
Bryan Terry took the loss, allowing nine runs on four hits. Other Tiger pitchers to see action were
Bryce Crawford,
Jagger Green,
Price Daube, and
Kort McCurtain.
Duncan Key led with four hits and four RBI's while
Mason Glowacki and
Christian Whitaker picked up three hits.
Cooper Hunt and
Nolan Herchock had two a piece and
Britton Sperry and
Michael Rosario had one.
The East Central University baseball team will finish the series with Oklahoma Baptist tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.