FROM PRESS RELEASE
ARKADELPHIA – Chase Baran pitched seven innings of shutout baseball as Ouachita Baptist held off a late rally to complete a three-game sweep of Fort Hays State with a 4-2 victory Sunday afternoon at Rab Rodgers Field.
Baran scattered four hits, walked four and struck out seven to run his record to 3-0. Jerry Helferich pitched a perfect eighth, paving the way for Patrick Lemmond. Lemmond struggled in the ninth, giving up a pair of runs on three hits with a walk, but got the final batter he faced to bounce out to second to end the game.
Matt Augustine (1-2) took the loss. He surrendered four runs (two earned) on 10 hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts. Garrett Huck worked just an inning and gave up a walk.
Ouachita Baptist grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on three hits and took advantage of a Fort Hays State error.
Blake Lockwood led off the frame by striking out, but reached on an error by the catcher. Chandler Boyce reached on a fielder’s choice as Lockwood was out at second. Jim Streicher followed with a base hit to right, moving Boyce to second. Justin Pennell slapped a single to left, plating Boyce and moving Streicher to second. With two outs, Destan Makonnen ripped a double to left, scoring Streicher, giving Ouachita Baptist a 2-0 lead.
Fort Hays State threatened in the top of the third. After getting the first two reached on walks, Baran got Tyler Robbins to strike out looking for the first out. Brent Biggs followed with a base hit to left, but Ryan Wade’s throw to the plate to Logan Burditt was in time for the second out and Brett Becker tried to take third, but Streicher’s throw to Rudy Jovanovski was in time to end the threat.
Ouachita Baptist grabbed runs in the bottom of the fourth, and then one in the seventh. Fort Hays State rallied with a pair of runs in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough.
Ouachita Baptist plays a two-game set 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 26 in Durant, Okla., against Southeastern Oklahoma State . The game can be heard on the Ouachita Baptist athletic Web site at: www.obutigers.com.
