| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saint Xavier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
|
Olivet Nazarene | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | X | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saint Xavier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
|
Olivet Nazarene | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 4 | 9 | 0 |
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University baseball team concluded its regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader with the Cougars of Saint Xavier at Watson Field. The Tigers used solid pitching and timely offense to win both sides of the doubleheader. ONU won game one, 6-2, and game two, 4-3.
Game One: ONU 6, SXU 2
The Tigers looked to their ace Ethan Underwood in the first game of the day. Underwood went five innings and surrendered two runs, on two hits and struck out six batters. The Tiger right-handed pitcher earned his ninth win of the season and carried an ERA of 1.88.
The Tigers jumped on the board first in game one as Gunnar Pullins smacked his third home run this season in the second inning. The Cougars took the lead in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run single making the score, 2-1. That proved to be the only blemish on the record for Underwood in the game both in the run and hit column.
The Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two runners on base, Robert Jackson drove in a pair with a two-run single. Later in the inning, Nolan Louis platted Jackman on an RBI single, making the score, 4-2. The Tigers extended their lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning when Rod Lucas scored on a wild pitch and Jacob Bulthuis scored on a sacrifice bunt by Garrett Mooney.
Peyton Bovie shut the door in the sixth and seventh, striking out four Cougar batters, as the Tigers won game one, 6-2. Bovie earned his second save of the season.
Game Two: ONU 4, SXU 3
Head Coach Jeff Mullikin entrusted Thomas Burns with the ball in game two and he did not disappoint. The Atlanta, Ga. native went seven innings and only surrendered two runs, on four hits, and struck out a pair of batters.
ONU jumped out in front, 2-0, in the first inning on RBI singles by Tyler Wheeler and Bulthuis. The next five innings proved to be a pitcher's duel as neither team cracked the scoring column. Saint Xavier evened the game in the sixth on a solo home run and an RBI double. Bulthuis then continued his good day at the plate as he gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead on a run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh. Then in the eighth inning, the Tigers picked up a key insurance run as Donovan Yelle drove-in Pullins on an RBI single.
The Cougars threatened in the top of the ninth but Tiger closer Jonathan Simpson neutralized the threat as he and the Tigers eventually won the game, 4-3, to sweep the doubleheader and win the series, 2-1.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Tigers ended the regular season with a record of 34-15 (27-3 CCAC) and look forward the CCAC Tournament that starts on Thursday, May 5th and ends with the Championship on Saturday, May 7th. The Tigers will play the eight seed on Thursday at DuPage Medical Field in Joliet, Ill. at 7 p.m.
--ONU—
*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu