WICHITA, Kan. – The Ottawa University baseball team took the series against Friends University with a split on Saturday afternoon. Friends won game one of the double header, 6-3. Ottawa rebounded to take game two, 3-2.

Game One
The Braves struck first, taking the lead in the top of the first inning. With Tyler Farnham on second, Cole Broughton hit a single to center, scoring Farnham and OU had a 1-0 lead. Friends answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, taking the 2-1 lead.

Ottawa tied the game in the top of the second. Liam Vulcano reached first with an infield single to third. A single to left by Nicholas Sizemore moved Vulcano to second and Zachary Spradlin's infield single to third loaded the bases. Jonah Weisner scored Vulcano and the game was tied, 2-2.

In the top of the fourth the Braves retook the lead. Connor Jeffers bunted, reaching first. Vulcano's single to third moved Jeffers to second. Sizemore then sacrificed Jeffers to third and Vulcano to second. Spradlin scored Jeffers with a sacrifice fly to right and OU led 3-2.

Friends answered in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game 3-3. After a scoreless fifth by both teams, the Falcons retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, 5-3. Friends pushed one more run across home plate in the bottom of the seventh to increase its lead to 6-3. Ottawa was not able to rally in its final two at bats and Friends took the game, 6-3.

Inside the Box Score

• Nicholas Sizemore went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Braves.
• Zachary Spradlin, Liam Vulcano, and Cole Broughton had two hits apiece.

Game Two
Ottawa took the lead in the top of the first inning. Pedro Astacio doubled to right, scoring Zachary Spradlin to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.

Friends scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. Ottawa tied the game in the top of the third.

Robby Williams walked and then stole second. A wild pitch moved Williams 90 feet from home. Spradlin's ground out to first scored Williams and the game was tied, 2-2.

In the top of the fifth, the Braves retook the lead. With two outs, Tyler Farnham singled to center. Williams was then hit by a pitch, moving Farnham to second. Spradlin singled to center, scoring Farnham to give the Braves a 3-2 lead.

Ottawa's defense only allowed four Falcons to reach base in Friends final three at bats and OU took the 3-2 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Zachary Spradlin had two hits in three at bats and led OU with two RBI.

Who is Next
Ottawa (20-12, 8-7) returns to action on Friday, March 31 in York, Neb. against York University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.