Oakland City University Athletics recently issued the following announcement.
Big Victory For Mighty Oaks Baseball Team In Non-Conference Matchup At Southern Indiana
On Tuesday, April 12, the Mighty Oaks baseball team, with their record of 20-16, took on the Screaming Eagles of the University of Southern Indiana in a non-conference matchup. The battle against the NCAA Division II Southern Indiana Eagles, owning a record coming into the game of 13-17, took place in Evansville, Indiana, starting at 6:00 pm.
The Mighty Oaks started the game off hot with a base on balls and four consecutive hits in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs off of Screaming Eagles starting pitcher Gavin Morris. In the top of the third inning, the Mighty Oaks extended their lead to 5-0. A walk by Sam Pinckert was followed by an RBI double from slugger Treven Madden. Madden scored later on a single by third baseman Colton White.
In the bottom of the third frame, USI came back to score one run, bringing the score to 5-1 in favor of the visiting Oaks. However, OCU responded with a run of their own in the top of the sixth inning when Victor Alvarez doubled to right field, sending Payton Hall home, and giving the Oaks a 6-1 advantage.
Justin Hallum took the bump to start the game for the Mighty Oaks and did not disappoint. He ended up pitching a solid six innings, giving up just one run on four hits, striking out five, walking three and hitting one batter. In the seventh inning, second year OCU head coach Andy Lasher handed the ball to Will Davis to take over the pitching duties. After two quick outs, Davis gave up a single and a homerun to move the score to 6-3. Davis responded right away by getting a strike out to end the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, USI was able to score one more run after a base on balls was followed up by a single to put runners on first and third base. A balk plated the fourth run for the Screaming Eagles, bringing the hosts within two at 6-4.
In the last three innings, the Mighty Oaks were not able to send any more runners home. However, the two run lead was enough, as Milan van der Breggen came in for the Mighty Oaks to shut the door in the ninth. With three consecutive fly outs, Van der Breggen picked up his fourth save on the year.
The final score of this nightcap in Evansville was 6-4. Colton White had the most hits for the Mighty Oaks, getting on base three times in four at-bats. Treven Madden also had a big day at the plate getting two hits, including an RBI double. Noah Baugher, Pinckert, Chandler Dunn and Alvarez all collected a hit as well. Hallum improved his record on the year to 3-1 and the Mighty Oaks are now 21-16 on the season.
The Oaks will look to ride the momentum boost gained from this victory into their double-header versus Indiana University South Bend, scheduled for Saturday, April 16, in Terre Haute, Indiana, at Indiana State University's baseball facility.
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