PULASKI, Tenn. – The Ottawa University baseball team split the first two games of its series with the University of Tennessee Southern on Friday evening. The Firehawks won game one, 2-1, but the Braves took game two, 5-4.

Game One
UT Southern broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third inning with two runs. That is where the score stayed until the top of the sixth. Johnny Vulcano's home run to left put OU on the scoreboard and the Braves were within 2-1.  

Ottawa tried to complete the comeback in the top of the seventh. Anthony Soria reached first because of a Firehawk miscue but the Braves were not able to score him and UTS took the 2-1 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Tyler Farnham, Johnny Vulcano, and Cole Broughton had one hit apiece for the Braves.
• Vulcano led OU with one RBI.
• Dawson Hurford recorded the loss. He pitched in one inning and had one strike out.
• Zack Melendez started the game, finishing with three strike outs in two innings.
• Flynn Ridley pitched the final three innings. He struck out five.

Game Two
The Firebirds scored two in the bottom of the first and one in the bottom of the second to take a 3-0 lead over the Braves. Ottawa rallied in the top of the fourth.

Dylan Garcia cut the UTS lead to 3-1 with a home run. Jaquavius Davis walked and then moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch. Donnie Rhyne walked and Jeremy Freeman, Jr. came in as a pinch runner, giving OU runners at the corners. Cole Broughton singled to left, scoring both Freeman and Davis to tie the game at 3-3.

The Braves pushed two more runs across home plate in the top of the fifth inning to take their first lead of the game. Blaine Thomas singled, and Brandon Kelley was hit by a pitch to give OU two on. Garcia singled to right, scoring Thomas to give OU a 4-3 lead. A wild pitch scored Kelley and OU led 5-3.

The Firehawks cut into OU's lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth, 5-4. Caden Gray entered the game in relief in the bottom of the sixth. He quieted the UTS bats in the final two innings of play, not allowing a base runner and earned the save as OU took the 5-4 victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• Dylan Garcia went 3-for-3 at the plate, scored a run and had two RBI.
• Blaine Thomas and Cole Broughton both finished the game with two hits apiece. Broughton had two RBI and Thomas scored a run.
• Fawster Voytko pitched in 3.1 innings to earn the victory. He struck out two.
• Caden Gray struck out two and did not allow a hit.

Who is Next
Ottawa (1-4) returns to the diamond on Saturday, Feb. 3 to finish its series with UT Southern. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.