OTTAWA, Kan. – The (21) Ottawa University baseball team completed the three game sweep of Evangel University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Park. The Braves took game one of the double header in seven innings, 13-3, and game two, 9-8, on a walk-off home run by
Jackson Alaniz.
Game One
The OU offense scored six runs on five hits to take the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Ottawa scored their six runs with two outs.
Cole Broughton singled to left-center to lead off the inning for the Braves.
Jackson Alaniz moved Broughton to second with an infield single. Broughton and
Donald Rhyne, who entered the game as a courtesy runner, stole third and second.
Anthony Soria loaded the bases for the Braves with a walk.
Jaquavius Davis was hit by a pitch, scoring Broughton to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Jeremy Freeman, Jr. followed that with a single to right. His hit scored Rhyne and Soria, giving OU a 3-0 lead.
Branden Franz doubled to left, scoring Davis and Freeman, increasing the Ottawa lead to 5-0.
Julius Ryan scored the final run of the inning for the Braves. His double down the right field line scored Franz and the Braves led 6-0.
The Braves increased their lead in the top of the second inning.
Dylan Garcia scored on a wild pitch, giving OU a 7-0 lead. Evangel cut into the Ottawa lead with two runs in the top of the third, 7-2. Ottawa earned those two runs back plus one more in the bottom of the third.
Freeman reached first on an infield single and advanced to third on an error by the Valor third baseman. Franz scored him with a single to left and Ottawa led 8-2. Franz stole second and scored on a double to left by Broughton, giving the Braves a 9-2 lead. Alaniz doubled to left-center, scoring Broughton and Ottawa led 10-2.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Evangel scored a run in the top of the fifth to cut the Brave lead to 10-3. The Braves earned that run back in the bottom of the sixth. After a double to center by Gomez, Alaniz scored him with a single to left and OU led 11-3.
The Braves held Evangel scoreless in the top of the seventh and took advantage of their opportunity to end the game in their next at bat. Franz hit an infield single and moved to second on a pinch hit single to left by
Owen Powers. Broughton singled to left, scoring Franz to give the Braves a 12-3 lead. Garcia ended the game with a sacrifice fly to center and OU took the 13-3 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Game Two
The Braves struck first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Shaun Gomez, Jr. walked and moved to third with a double down the left field line by
Jackson Alaniz.
Anthony Soria singled to left, scoring two and the Braves had a 2-0 lead.
Evangel cut into the Brave lead with a run in the top of the second, 2-1. Ottawa increased its lead in the bottom of the third.
Julius Ryan walked.
Cole Broughton's single to center moved Ryan to third. Ryan scored on a steal attempt by Broughton and the Braves had a 3-1 lead.
Evangel cut into the Brave lead with a run in the top of the fifth, 3-2. The Valor scored two run in the top of the sixth to take their first lead of the day, 4-3.
Ottawa answered in the bottom of the sixth. Alaniz doubled to left and
Donald Rhyne entered the game as a courtesy runner for Alaniz.
Anthony Soria scored Rhyne with a single to right to tie the game at four all.
The Braves retook the lead on a single to right by Freeman, 5-4. Ryan's single to left scored two and the Braves had a 7-4 lead.
Evangel responded by scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to retake the lead, 8-7. Ottawa rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Gomez walked, bringing Alaniz to the plate. He connected on his second home run of the season, giving the Braves the lead and the game 9-8.
Inside the Box Score
- Jackson Alaniz was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored. He hit three doubles and one home run.
- Fawster Voytke pitched five innings, striking out three.
- Flynn Ridley earned the win, striking out one and only allowing one hit.
Who is Next
(21) Ottawa (26-5, 17-3) returns to the diamond on Tuesday, March 25 against McPherson College at Alumni Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
