Ottawa has an overall record of 26-5, is tied for first place in the KCAC (Oklahoma Wesleyan) with a record of 17-3, is on a three game winning streak, has an 18-2 mark at home this season, and is ranked no. 21 in the NAIA Top 25.
The Braves swept the conference series with Evangel last weekend. It was OU's ninth series victory this season. Ottawa won game one in seven innings, 18-4, game two 13-3 in seven innings, and 9-8 on a walk-off home run by
Jackson Alaniz.
This past weekend's sweep of Evangel at Alumni Park was the first time that OU had swept the Valor in Ottawa. It was also the first time that the two teams had played a series in Ottawa since Feb. 13, 2008.
Through 31 games this season, Ottawa has scored 317 runs and hit 52 home runs. The Braves have a .354 batting average, a .465 on base percentage, and a .615 slugging percentage.
Jackson Alaniz leads OU in batting average (.431),
Cole Broughton is Ottawa's leader in RBI (41),
Jeremy Freeman, Jr. leads the Braves in stolen bases (25), and
Zack Melendez is the team's leader in ERA (2.75) and strike outs (47).
Ottawa is ranked 35th in the NAIA in at bats (948), sixth in runs (317), 10th in hits (336), ninth in doubles (73), 27th in triples (9), ninth in home runs (52), ninth in RBI (279), fifth in extra base hits (134), fifth in total bases (583), 37th in walks (153), 19th in hit by pitch (57), 39th in sacrifice flies (15), 27th in sacrifice hits (16), third in stolen bases (131), third in caught stealing (26), eighth in batting average (.354), 12th in on base percentage (.465), fifth in slugging percentage (.615), 26th in ERA (4.80), 31st in WHIP (1.46), 48th in at bats against (910), and 26th in opponent batting average (.251).
The Braves have a record of 18-2 at Alumni Park this season. One of those losses were to McPherson College on March 11, 13-12. At home this season, Ottawa has a .384 batting average, a .666 slugging percentage, and a .498 on base percentage. OU is 97-for-111 in stolen base attempts. Those 97 stolen bases would rank 10th overall in the NAIA in stolen bases. Ottawa's pitching staff has a 4.41 ERA, striking out 186 in 153 innings. Opponents are hitting .251 against the Braves at Alumni Park.
Ottawa has six players hitting over .400 at home this season:
Brian Parry (.514),
Jackson Alaniz (.492),
Anthony Soria (.490),
Branden Franz (.462),
Cole Broughton (.413), and
Jaquavius Davis (.412).
Tuesday is the 57th game between Ottawa University and McPherson College. Ottawa leads the series 36-20. The Bulldogs are on a three game winning streak over the Braves and have a 2-0 series lead against OU this season. McPherson won the first game this season on March 11 at Alumni Park 12-11 and took game two on March 18 at Bulldog Park, 15-14, on a walk-off. The first ever game between the two teams was on April 17, 1908 in McPherson. The Bulldogs won the game, 3-0.
McPherson College is 17-14 overall and 12-8 in the KCAC. The Bulldogs have a road mark of 8-9 and enters Tuesday's game coming off a 2-1 series win over Bethany College last weekend in Lindsborg. McPherson won game one, 17-5, fell in game two 7-6, and took game three 7-2.
Through 31 games this season, McPherson has scored 217 runs and hit 43 home runs. The Bulldogs have a .306 batting average, a .409 on base percentage, and a .496 slugging percentage.
Colt Upholds lead MC in batting average (.442) and RBI (27). Ky'rell Taylor and Jace Essig lead the team in stolen bases with 10 apiece. Matthew Bomersback leads the team in ERA (4.70) and strike outs (44).
McPherson is ranked 10th in the NAIA in at bats (1,007), 27th in hits (308), 48th in doubles (54), 14th in home runs (43), 48th in RBI (202), 31st in extra base hits (101), 22nd in total bases (499), 43rd in hit by pitch (49), 25th in hit into a double play (19), 24th in stolen bases (64), 44th in caught stealing (14), 48th in slugging percentage (.496), and 12th in at bats against (988).
