OTTAWA, Kan. – The (17) Ottawa University baseball team took the series against Southwestern College with a double header sweep of the Moundbuilders on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Park. Ottawa won game one in seven innings, 16-6, and took game two, 6-0. The win in game one of the double header was OU's 30
th victory of the season. It is the fifth time in program history, and the second under head coach
Gabe Grinder, that the Braves have won 30 or more games in a season.
Game One
Ottawa took the lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Tyler Farnham reached first on an error by the SWC shortstop.
Holland Boan moved Farnham to second on a ground out.
Connor Jeffers scored Farnham with a double to center and Ottawa led 1-0.
The Braves extended their lead in the bottom of the third. Farnham led off the inning with a single to left. He then stole second. Boan walked and the Braves had runners on first and second. After a Moundbuilder pitching change, Jeffers doubled to center, scoring both Farnham and Boan to give the Braves a 3-0 lead. Jeffers then stole third, giving the Braves a runner 90 feet from home.
Carson Johnson scored Jeffers with a ground out to third and Ottawa led 4-0.
Southwestern cut into the Brave lead with back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth, 4-2. OU earned those two runs back plus one more in the bottom of the fourth.
Logan Zozaya led off the inning with a home run to left field to increase the OU lead to 5-2.
Zachary Spradlin reached first on an error by the SWC shortstop. He then stole second and OU had a runner in scoring position. Farnham hit a single to left, scoring Spradlin to give Ottawa a 6-2 lead. Farnham swiped second and then scored on a double to center by Boan and OU led 7-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Ottawa scored five runs on three hits and one SWC error to take a 12-2 lead over Southwestern. Boan and Zozaya both hit a home run in the inning.
Southwestern scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to cut OU's lead to 12-4. Ottawa answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth and led 13-4. Southwestern pushed two more runs across home plate in the top of the seventh to cut OU's lead to 13-6.
The Braves responded with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to end the game early. Boan hit a home run to left.
Nicholas Sizemore walked, bringing in
Brad Grant as a courtesy runner.
Carson Johnson hit an infield single, moving Grant to second.
Luis DeLeon walked, loading the bases for the Braves. Zozaya walked, scoring Grant and Ottawa led 15-6. Ottawa ended the game on a Spradlin fielder's choice. Johnson scored, giving OU the game 16-6.
Inside the Box Score
Game Two
Ottawa broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning.
Tyler Farnham reached first on a walk. He stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.
Holland Boan walked and OU had runners on the corners. Boan stole second and Farnham stole home, giving OU a 1-0 lead.
Ottawa increased its lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Carson Johnson reached first on an error by the SWC shortstop. He then swiped second to give the Braves a runner in scoring position.
Gabe Eckstaine singled to right, scoring Johnson and Ottawa led 2-0.
Logan Zozaya doubled to right, scoring Eckstaine to increase the Ottawa led to 3-0.
Zachary Spradlin reached first on a bunt single, moving Zozaya to third.
Jonah Weisner walked, loading the bases for the Braves. Farnham scored Zozaya with a fielder's choice to give the Braves a 4-0 lead. Boan then scored Spradlin with a sacrifice fly to right and Ottawa had a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Jeffers and Ottawa led 6-0. OU pitcher
Hector Sepulveda didn't allow a Moundbuilder to reach base in the final two innings and Ottawa took the 6-0 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- OU had five hits by five difference Braves.
- Hector Sepulveda struck out 12 in seven innings, only allowing three hits.
Who is Next
Ottawa (31-5, 19-3) returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 12 against Avila University at Alumni Park. The game is the last in the series with the Eagles. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
