OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University baseball team swept the series with Sterling College, defeating the Warriors 11-6 on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Park.
Sterling struck first, taking a 2-0 lead over the Braves in the top of the first inning. After a scoreless second and third inning by both teams, Ottawa took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Nicholas Sizmore reached first on a bunt single and then moved to third on a throwing error by the SC pitcher. A wild pitch scored
Robby Williams, who was in as a courtesy runner for Sizemore, and OU trailed 2-1.
Jeremy Freeman, Jr. walked and then promptly stole second.
Anthony Soria's double to right center scored Freeman to tie the game, 2-2.
Tyler Farnham's bunt single moved Soria 90 feet from home.
Dylan Garcia scored Soria with a sacrifice fly to right, giving OU the 3-2 lead.
Ottawa extended its lead over Sterling in the bottom of the fifth.
Jackson Alaniz singled to right center and
Liam Vulcano entered the game as a pinch runner. Two pitches later,
Johnny Vulcano sent the ball over the center field fence and OU had a 5-2 lead. Sizemore doubled to left and Williams came in as a courtesy runner. A wild pitch moved Williams to third. Soria singled to center, scoring Williams and the Braves led 6-2. After a Warrior pitching change, Soria advanced to third on a throwing error by the Sterling pitcher. Farnham then put the ball in play and scored Soria, giving OU a 7-2 lead.
The Warriors cut into OU"s lead with three runs in the top of the sixth to get within two runs, 7-5. Sterling tried to rally in the top of the seventh. SC loaded the bases and had one out.
Fawster Voytko entered the game and got a strike out and a fly out to close the door on the Warrior scoring threat. The Braves took that momentum and pushed three more runs across home plate in the bottom of the seventh.
Freeman hit an infield single and then moved to second on a throwing error by the SC pitcher. Soria hit his second home run of the season and the Braves had a 9-5 lead. Farnham reached first on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the SC pitcher.
Cole Broughton reached first on a throwing error by the Warrior third baseman and
Dylan Garcia loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch.
Blaine Thomas put the ball in play, scoring Farnham and OU led 10-5.
Sterling scored a run in the top of the eighth, cutting OU's lead to 10-6. Ottawa earned that run back in the bottom of the eighth inning. Sizemore hit his first home run of the season, giving OU the lead and the game 11-6.
Inside the Box Score
Who is Next
Ottawa (13-10, 7-5) returns to the diamond on Tuesday, March 12 against McPherson College in McPherson, Kan. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
