OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University baseball team finished its four game series with Hastings College on Sunday afternoon with a double header sweep of the Broncos. The Braves won game one, 12-2 and took game two on a walk off single by Cole Broughton, 7-6.
Game One
Ottawa struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Cole Broughton led OU off with a single up the middle. He then moved to second on a wild pitch. Jackson Alaniz was hit by a pitch and the Braves had runners on first and second. Jesus Rodriguez singled to right, scoring Broughton to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Julius Ryan, who was in the game as a courtesy runner for Alaniz, scored on a wild pitch and the Braves led 2-0.
The Braves extended their lead over the Broncos with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. With Branden Franz on third and Brian Parry on second, Broughton’s ground out to the HC short stop scored Franz to give OU a 3-0 lead. Jeremy Freeman, Jr. followed that with a triple to center, scoring Parry to increase the OU lead to 4-0. Alaniz then doubled, scoring Freeman and the Braves led 5-0.
In the bottom of the third, Ottawa pushed six runs across home plate on three hits to take an 11-0 lead. OU scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Shaun Gomez, Jr. hit his first home run of the season, and the Braves had a 12-0 lead.
Hastings cut into the Brave lead with a run in the top of the fifth and in the top of the seventh and the Braves took the game 12-2.
Inside the Box Score
Game Two
After a scoreless first and second inning, Ottawa broke the 0-0 tie with two runs in the bottom of the third. Branden Franz was hit by a pitch and then moved to second with a single to left by Cole Broughton. Jeremy Freeman, Jr. walked, loading the bases for the Braves. Jackson Alaniz was then hit by a pitch, scoring Franz to give OU a 1-0 lead. Jesus Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly to right scored Broughton and the Braves had a 2-0 lead.
Ottawa increased its lead in the bottom of the fourth. Dylan Garcia was hit by a pitch and Robby Williams entered the game as a pinch runner. Williams swiped second, giving OU a runner in scoring position. Shaun Gomez, Jr. walked and the Braves had runners on first and second. Ottawa moved both runners into scoring position with a steal of second and third. Franz followed that with a single up the middle, scoring both Williams and Gomez and the Braves led 4-0.
Hastings cut into the Brave lead with a run in the top of the fifth, 4-1. The Broncos tied the game with three runs in the top of the sixth, 4-4.
Ottawa retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Julius Ryan, pinch hitting for Franz, walked and then advanced to second on an error by the HC first baseman. Brian Parry’s single to left scored Ryan and the Braves had a 5-4 lead. Freeman’s sacrifice fly to right scored Parry to give OU a 6-4 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Hastings tied the game at six all with a two run home run. In the bottom of the eighth, Ottawa was able to end the game. Gomez walked and Donald Rhyne entered the game as a pinch runner. Franz moved Rhyne to second with a sacrifice bunt. Parry walked and the Braves had runners on first and second. Broughton singled up the middle, scoring Rhyne and the Braves took the 7-6 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Who is Next
Ottawa (4-0) returns to the diamond with a four game series in Conway, Ark. Against Central Baptist College. Game one starts on Friday, Feb. 7 at 12:00 p.m.
