Box Score Kansas City, MO – For the first time since 2017, the Oakland City University baseball team has made it back to the NCCAA World Series. The ten-team tournament is played at the fields of the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy.
The first opponent for coach Andy Lasher and his team was Toccoa Falls University, the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Oakland City has the No. 5 seed. After a long rain delay, the schedule changed and the Mighty Oaks did not start their game till 7:10 PM.
For a long time, it looked like it was going to be a pitcher's duel between the Screaming Eagles and the Mighty Oaks. In the fifth inning, Oakland City opened the score. A lead-off single from
Conner Oxley was followed by an RBI double down the right field line from
Alec Pruitt.
Aron Busick followed with a bunt single, which allowed courtesy-runner
Victor Alvarez to advance to third base. Alvarez scored the 2-0 on a sacrifice fly from
Jared Kirkman.
Two innings later, the Mighty Oaks added some insurance runs.
Noah Baugher led off the inning with a double. He advanced to third when
Sam Pinckert reached base on a throwing error. With two runners on,
Garrett Causey cleared the bases with a triple in the right centerfield gap.
Xander Willis brought Causey home with a sacrifice fly, making it a 5-0 ballgame.
Oakland City played a solid game, collecting nine hits, while making no errors and throwing a shutout on the mound. The winning pitcher,
Gehrig Tenhumberg, threw the first six inning, giving up five hits, walking two and striking out four.
Tommy Johnson came in to shut the door. While earning the save, he did not allow a baserunner as he fanned five of the Toccoa Falls batters.
Tomorrow, Oakland City will take on the No. 1 seed Mid-America Christian University at 3:00 PM
