HILLSBORO, Kan. – The (21) Ottawa University baseball team took game one of its series with Tabor College, 17-12, on Friday afternoon at Bluejay Baseball Field. The win snapped OU's seven game losing streak to Tabor. It is the Braves first win over the Bluejays since April 23, 2022 and OU's first win in Hillsboro since April 10, 2021.
Ottawa struck first, batting around in the top of the first inning. Walks by
Cole Broughton and
Shaun Gomez, Jr. gave the Braves runners on first and second.
Jackson Alaniz cleared the bases with a three home run, his third of the season, and OU led 3-0.
Anthony Soria singled to left and then moved to second with an infield single by
Jaquavius Davis.
Branden Franz singled to left, scoring Soria and the Braves had a 4-0 lead.
Julius Ryan increased the OU lead with a three run home run, his third of the season, and Ottawa led 7-0.
Tabor cut into the Brave lead with three runs in the bottom of the first, 7-3. The Bluejays pushed one more run across home plate in the bottom of the second, cutting the OU lead to 7-4. After a scoreless third inning by both teams, Ottawa increased the lead in the top of the fourth. With two on Davis hit his sixth home run of the season, giving the Braves a 10-4 lead.
The Bluejays scored one run in the bottom of the fourth to get within 10-5 of OU. The Braves earned that run back plus two more in the top of the fifth.
Gomez hit an infield single and Alaniz reached first on an error by the Tabor third baseman. Soria was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for OU. Davis scored Gomez with a single to right and OU led 11-5. Franz followed that hit with a single to center, scoring two and the Braves had a 13-5 lead.
Tabor scored two runs in the top of the sixth to cut the Brave lead to 13-7. Ottawa answered with two runs of its own in the top of the seventh.
Freeman's RBI single to center scored Soria to increase the Brave lead to 14-7. Franz was able to score on an error by the TC pitcher on a failed pick off attempt, giving OU a 15-7 lead.
TC scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to get within 15-8. OU scored one of its own in the top of the eighth.
Nicholas Sizemore, in the game as a pinch hitter, hit his ninth home run of the season and the Braves had a 16-8 lead.
The Bluejays scored another run in the bottom of the eighth and Ottawa led 16-9. The Braves scored one more run in the game in the top of the ninth. Davis reached second on a double to right.
Jeremy Freeman, Jr. scored Davis with a single to left and Ottawa had a 17-9 lead.
Tabor tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth. The Bluejays scored three runs and had the bases loaded with two outs when
Cameron Sistrunk entered the game. He got the Bluejay hitter to ground out to Alaniz at first and the Braves took the 17-12 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Who is Next
Ottawa (28-5, 19-3) finishes its series with Tabor College on Saturday, March 29 at the Bluejay Baseball Field in Hillsboro, Kan. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
