OPSU Baseball Drops Three To Newman

The Oklahoma Panhandle State University baseball team had trouble getting their bats working against Newman University last weekend, scoring four runs to the Jets' 30 in the three-game series played Feb. 15-16.

Newman 5, OPSU 0—In game one played on Friday, the Jets plated four runs off losing pitcher Alan Scott in the first inning and added another run in the fifth. For the Aggies, things stayed quiet until the fourth when Nick Crosswhite hit a two-out single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was left on base at the end of the inning. OPSU had an opportunity to score in the seventh when Crosswhite singled again, sending runner Payton Osbon to second. Christopher McClendon walked to load the bases and the next batter struck out. Robert Montoya grounded into a double play to retire the side. The Aggies tried to come from behind in the ninth when Crosswhite struck again, smacking a two-out double. McClendon singled, sending Crosswhite to third, but Ruben Aguirre struck out for the final out of the game. Crosswhite hit three for four at-bats and McClendon was one for 2.

Starting pitcher Scott scattered nine hits and struck out three while reliever Nick Chavez struck out one in one inning of work.

Newman 13, OPSU 1—Leading off in the first inning, Osbon doubled and advanced to third on a Jordan Bernal sacrifice bunt, but the next two batters struck out, stranding the runner. The Aggies ran into a pitching nightmare as southpaw Corey Mingin took the mound for the Aggies and threw only one inning, giving up six runs off six hits. After the Jets sat down three consecutive Aggie batters in the second, freshman righthander Scott Cutright entered the game to pitch for OPSU, and the nightmare continued as the lead-off batter homered. After giving up three more runs, lefty Freezy Smalls went into pitch and three more runners made it safely home, making the score 13-0 at the end of two. Smalls pitched the third, and struck two, walked two, and gave up one hit. Joshua Land tossed the final three innings, striking out two and giving up only two hits. The lone Aggie run came in the seventh when Crosswhite once again put his bat to work, hitting a solo home run. Mingin took the loss for the Aggies.

Newman 12, OPSU 3—The Aggies were three up and three down in the top of the first, and then Newman took only one run off left-handed pitcher Mitch Provolt. Crosswhite walked after being hit by a pitch in the second and advanced to second off a McClendon single. Aguirre reached first when fielders threw out the other two runners, setting up a two-run homer for Montoya as the Aggies enjoyed a short 2-1 lead. Jet bats came alive once again in the second as they scored five runs and one more in the third to go ahead 7-2 after three innings. Matt Klaczkiewicz relieved Provolt in inning four, giving up one hit. Leading off in the fifth, Aguirre hit a homer to score OPSU's final run. Newman added two runs in the fifth off Klackczkiewicz and Smalls went into pitch in the sixth and gave up one run in one inning of work. Nick Chavez closed, scattering three hits and giving up two runs. Provolt took the loss.

The Aggies play a three-game series against St. Mary's University in San Antonio Feb. 22-23, the number one ranked South Central team according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

OPSU opens at home on March 1 with a doubleheader against the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith. The first pitch is at 1 p.m.