Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY – Third-ranked Oklahoma Baptist scored nine runs in the second inning and five more in the third as the Bison – fueled by a three-home run performance by Colt Bickerstaff – defeated Wayland Baptist in the championship semifinals of the Sooner Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament here Sunday, 17-2.
The seven-inning, 10-run rule loss puts the Pioneers (34-22) into an elimination game at 6 p.m. today against the winner between an afternoon contest pitting No. 2 Oklahoma City (39-11), which Wayland downed on Saturday night, 11-9, and Southwestern Christian (24-24). The winner of tonight's game moves into the championship to face OBU (50-4) at noon Monday. The Bison's opponent would have to beat them twice Monday in order to take the title and earn the automatic berth into the NAIA National Championships.
Against Wayland, OBU won its 20
th straight game, a run that that when the Bison swept the Pioneers in a three-game series in early April.
The Bison ended with 18 hits, including five home runs. Three of those came from Bickerstaff, whose bombs accounted for five runs.
OBU scored twice in the bottom of the first before plating nine runs in the second. Bickerstaff, a senior left-fielder from Mineola, Texas, who previously attended the University of Oklahoma, opened the inning with a solo home run then later in the frame added a three-run shot.
Landon Coon added a two-run homer and Bickerstaff booked another solo shot as part of a five-run third that ended with the Bison ahead 16-1. Bickerstaff entered the game with five home runs on the season, while Coon had a dozen.
Senior starter
Craig Cook (1-3) took the loss, surrendering nine runs on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Kyle Parriera also went 1 1/3, surrendering seven runs on six hits. Freshman
Jordie Henry finished up, allowing just one run on four hits with four strikeouts in 3 1/3.
OBU's Nathan Thompson (5-0) went four innings, giving up a run and two hits with five strikeouts. The Bison used three relievers one inning apiece, combining for nine Ks and just one walk.
Ethan Percell got two of Wayland's six hits.
