10-05-2025
USAO baseball wins conference tournament to earn automatic bid in NAIA Tournament
The three-seeded Drovers cruised through the conference tournament to earn a spot in the national tournament next week.
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma's baseball team won the Sooner Athletic Conference title this weekend with a massive 11-1 victory Monday over one-seeded Wayland Baptist to earn the automatic bid into the NAIA tournament. The Drovers had one blemish Sunday against Wayland Baptist with a loss, but bounced back in the championship game with a blowout win.
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Wayland Baptist got on the board first in the first inning, but the Drovers scored four runs in the bottom-half of the first inning to take the lead. The Drovers scored the first run on catcher Gunnar Hansen's RBI single to right field that scored right fielder Ian Ortiz. The inning, though, was highlighted by designated hitter Peyton McDowall's three-run home run to left field.
In the second and fourth innings, Ortiz kept the runs coming with a sac-fly and a two-run double.
The onslaught didn't end there, with center fielder Nolan Herchock's grand slam in the fifth inning to put the Drovers up 10 runs.
The Drovers beat Mid-America Christian on its way to winning a best two-out-of-three series over Wayland Baptist to win the championship.
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Wednesday, the SAC announced conference honors, with the Drovers earning plenty of awards. Pitcher Brian Ereu earned the conference's Pitcher of the Year award while getting First-Team honors as well. Catcher Gunnar Hansen earned All-Conference First-Team honors as well.
Gage Ninness, Ian Ortiz, Tyson Neal and Ryan Cullinane all earned second-team conference honors.
Peyton McDowall, Hansen, Ortiz and Ninness all earned the conference's Gold Glove award at their respective positions for their defensive work this season.
The Drovers will figure out where they will go to play in the opening round of the NAIA tournament during the selection show Wednesday at 4 p.m.
