The Braves split with Friends University, taking game one 2-0 but falling in eight innings, 6-3, in game two. In those two game, Ottawa hit .231, scored five runs, hit one home run, had three RBI, a .288 slugging percentage, walked five times, struck out 15 times, had a .310 on base percentage, and was 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts. Friends hit .246, had a .281 slugging percentage, walked once, struck out 11 times, had a .271 on base percentage, and was 1-for-1 in stolen base attempts.
Ottawa is 14-3 on the road this season and have won nine straight road games. The Braves' last road loss was against Evangel University on March 6 in Springfield, Mo. in game one, 5-3. OU is outscoring opponents on the road, 16-8 in the first inning and 16-9 in the seventh. OU hits .287, averages 6.1 runs per game, has a .430 slugging percentage, a .367 on base percentage, and is 23-for-29 in stolen base attempts. The Ottawa pitching staff has a 3.84 ERA, striking out 59 in 113 innings. Opponents are hitting .273 against the Brave pitching staff.
Through 37 games this season, Ottawa is hitting .300, has a .386 on base percentage, and a .452 slugging percentage. OU has hit 25 home runs and scored 228 runs.
Ottawa is ranked 23rd in the NAIA in runs (228), 45th in hits (293), 15th in doubles (64), 17th in home runs (25), 31st in RBI (191), 21st in extra base hits (92), 30th in total bases (442), 16th in walks (114), 18th in hit by pitch (29), 46th in slugging percentage (.452), 20th in shut outs (9), and 50th in opponent batting average (.248).
Madison Bunfill leads the Braves in batting average (.411) and RBI (41).
Ashlynn Mercer is OU's leader in ERA (2.85), and strike outs (74).
Ottawa has a record of 37-12 against McPherson College. OU is 6-1 in the last seven meetings against McPherson. The Braves swept the regular season last year, winning game one 2-1 and game two, 3-2 at Alumni Park on March 26. The Bulldogs defeated the Braves at the KCAC Tournament in Great Bend, Kan. on May 6, 5-1, snapping OU's six game winning streak against MC. Ottawa has won two straight games at Bulldog Park, taking both games of the double header on March 27, 2021 in McPherson, 8-0 (6) and 6-3. The first meeting between the two teams took place in 2001. Ottawa won the game 4-1.
McPherson College is 15-15 overall, has a record of 8-8 in the KCAC, enters Saturday's double header coming off an 8-0 loss to Avila on April 13, and has a record of 10-6 at home. MC has won four straight games at home. The Bulldogs broke its two game losing streak in game one against Avila on April 13, taking a 1-0 victory. Prior to that win, McPherson had lost two straight to Kansas Wesleyan University on April 11 in Salina, 4-0, 5-2.
Through 29 games, the Bulldogs have a .293 batting average, a .368 on base percentage, and a .372 slugging percentage. McPherson has hit seven home runs, and they have scored 127 runs.
Tatyana Alvarado leads McPherson in batting average (.404) and Lacy Weaver is the team's leader in RBI (18). Kaegan Kleppe is MC's leader in ERA (3.29) and Jordyn Johnson is the Bulldogs' leader in strike outs (60).
In 15 home games this season, McPherson has a .286 batting average and averaging 4.4 runs per game. The Bulldogs strike out 5.9 times per game and have hit four home runs.
