Bison Pepper Cavaliers, 14-4

April 25, 2008

Oklahoma Baptist peppered St. Gregory's for a 14-4, seven-inning, run-rule win Friday at Bison Field.

Keith Johnson led the charge with four RBI and the Cavaliers allowed nine unearned runs along the way.

The Cavaliers drew first blood, scoring on an RBI single by Cory Underhill in the first inning.

The Bison answered with five runs off Brady Thorpe (2-6) in the bottom of the first. Mason Reilly and Frank Avilla had RBI singles, Christian Ruiz brought a runner home on a fielder's choice and two more came in on a single by Johnson.

The Cavaliers chipped away at the lead with one-run second and fourth innings, chasing starter Adam Garner. Chase Jestice (3-2) shut the door for two innings to pick up the win as Garner just missed collecting the needed five innings in a scheduled nine-inning game.

OBU erupted for six runs in the fifth inning, starting with a two-run double by Johnson. Cody Lambeth added an RBI double and two more came in on a double to the left field wall against the wind by Josh Collazo. Kyle Cooper also had an RBI single.

All six of those runs were unearned as the inning was prolonged by a dropped fly ball and a wild throw for two errors.

The Cavaliers scored once in the top of the seventh, but had a second run come off the board when it was ruled that Kenny Gooch left third base too early on a would-be sacrifice fly by Jeremy Springer.

OBU ended the game in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out rally. Lambeth led off with a single and scored when Collazo reached on an error. Reilly reached on an error to prolong the inning and then Chris Chambers ripped a triple down the right field line to score the game-enders.

Chambers led the 14-hit offense with three, while Cooper, Reilly, Johnson and Lambeth had two each.

The teams square off for Senior Day Saturday with both teams' seniors being recognized before the game, which begins at Bison Field at 1 p.m.

OBU is 39-12 overall and 18-11 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.