Bison Take Three From Wonder Boys

Oklahoma Baptist University swept a three-game Great American Conference baseball series from Arkansas Tech University on Sunday and Monday in Shawnee, Okla.

The Bison (16-5 overall, 8-4 GAC) defeated the Wonder Boys by scores of 5-2, 13-4 and 6-5.

Arkansas Tech (9-15, 4-8) will host Henderson State University for a 6 p.m. non-conference game at Tech Field in Russellville on Tuesday, March 15.

Game One: OBU 5, Arkansas Tech 2

Jinny Parra pitched a complete game and Dustyn Cook drove in two runs to lead Oklahoma Baptist to a 5-2 victory over Arkansas Tech in the series opener on Sunday.

Parra (5-1) limited the Wonder Boys to two runs on six hits over nine innings. He struck out five.

Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Zach Skelton (2-2) allowed four runs on seven hits. He worked six and two-thirds innings.

Mark Vaughn and Josh Watkins both went 2-for-4 for the Wonder Boys. Watkins drove in both of Tech’s runs on a double in the top of the third.

Game Two: OBU 13, Arkansas Tech 4

Oklahoma Baptist rapped out 20 base hits, including eight for extra bases, while defeating Arkansas Tech 13-4 in game one of Monday’s doubleheader.

Ryan Joyce went 3-for-4 with a home run and four runs batted in and Brandon Cuddy was 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs for the Bison. Kyle Abblitt also homered for Oklahoma Baptist.

Mike Gould (4-0) pitched three and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief to earn the win on the mound.

Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Geoffrey Birkemeier (2-1) was charged with seven runs on seven hits in one and one-third innings.

Kaleb Warden led the Wonder Boys’ 10-hit attack by going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Marcus Wilson, Dylan McDearmon and Kyle Love added two hits apiece.

Game Three: OBU 6, Arkansas Tech 5

Oklahoma Baptist struck for two runs in its last at-bat to walk off with a 6-5 win over Arkansas Tech in the series finale on Monday afternoon.

The Wonder Boys came from behind to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh inning behind a solo home run by Love and an RBI single by Michael Post.

Tech came within one out of victory in the last of the seventh. With two out and runners at second and third base, Oklahoma Baptist’s Hunter Heath delivered an RBI single that brought Trevor Ezell in with the tying run. An error on the same play allowed Joyce to score the winning run.

OBU reliever Carson McPherson (3-0) struck out eight and was credited with the win. Tech reliever Ryan Vruggink (1-1) was saddled with the loss.

Warden drove in three runs for the Wonder Boys.