STERLING, Kan. - The (20) Ottawa University Braves experienced both ends of the baseball spectrum on Saturday afternoon, falling in a wild extra-inning shootout before responding with a decisive victory to earn a split of their conference doubleheader with the Sterling College Warriors. Ottawa dropped game one 15–14 in 10 innings despite a powerful offensive performance, but the Braves bounced back with a convincing 12–3 win in the nightcap.

Ottawa's offense totaled 26 hits and 26 runs across the doubleheader.

Game 1 – Sterling 15, Ottawa 14 (10 innings)
Ottawa's offense erupted early and appeared in control for much of the afternoon, but Sterling rallied late and walked it off in the 10th inning in a 15–14 thriller.

The Braves struck first with a four-run second inning, taking advantage of a Sterling error and aggressive baserunning. RBI hits from Dylan Snead and Jose Lopez helped Ottawa build a 4–0 lead before Sterling answered with a three-run home run by Ezavien Campos.

Ottawa continued to pile on in the third inning. Julius Ryan launched a solo home run and the Braves added four more runs in the frame, including a two-run double from Jalen Ryan to stretch the lead to 9–3.

The Braves added four more runs in the sixth inning on RBI hits from Jeremy Freeman, Julius Ryan, and Dane Lujan to extend the advantage to 13–4.

However, Sterling slowly chipped away. The Warriors scored once in the seventh and exploded for six runs in the eighth to pull within 14–11. Sterling completed the comeback with three runs in the ninth to force extra innings.

In the 10th, Sterling loaded the bases and drew a walk to bring home the winning run, completing the dramatic comeback.

Game 1 Stats

• Jalen Ryan: 3-for-5, double, 2 RBI
• Julius Ryan: 3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
• Jeremy Freeman: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
• Kaiden Hoapili: 3-for-6, double
• Declan Brown: 2-for-2, two runs scored
• Dane Lujan: 2-for-5, double, RBI
• Jose Lopez: 1 hit, 3 RBI, stolen base
• Garrett Dodd: 1-for-2, RBI, two runs scored

Game 2 – Ottawa 12, Sterling 3
The Braves quickly regrouped in game two, using a strong offensive performance and solid pitching to cruise past Sterling 12–3.

Sterling jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run, but Ottawa answered immediately in the second. Jalen Ryan started the rally with an RBI single before Dylan Snead ripped a two-run double to give Ottawa the lead. Jeremy Freeman followed with an RBI single to cap the four-run inning.

The Braves kept the pressure on in the third when Jose Lopez doubled home a run to extend the lead.

Ottawa added another run in the fifth on a solo home run from Jose Vega, then broke the game open in the sixth. Snead blasted a solo homer and Vega delivered a two-run single to push the advantage to 9–2.

The Braves put the finishing touches on the win in the seventh. Snead drove in another run and Julius Ryan cleared the bases with a two-run triple to extend the lead to 12–3.

Adrian Quintana earned the win, pitching five innings and striking out five while allowing just three hits.
Game 2 Stats

• Dylan Snead: 2-for-5, HR, double, 4 RBI, 3 runs scored
• Jose Vega: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored
• Julius Ryan: 1-for-1, triple, 2 RBI, 2 walks
• Jeremy Freeman: 1-for-3, RBI, 3 stolen bases
• Jose Lopez: 2-for-3, double, RBI, stolen base
• Garrett Dodd: 2-for-3, two runs scored
• Adrian Quintana: Win, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 5 K
• Tim Burke: 2.0 IP in relief, 2 strikeouts

Who is Next
Ottawa (23-5, 14-4) returns to the diamond on Tuesday, March 17 at Alumni Park against Tabor College. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.