MOUNTAINEER BASEBALL

Story by Aric Thomas
(04-20-08)

19th Ranked Eastern Splits with Connors

The 19th ranked Eastern Oklahoma State College baseball team (34-14 / 9-7) knocked off Connors State College 11-3 Sunday to split their regular season series.  In game one Tuesday, the Mountaineers won 14-9, Wednesday Eastern dropped a 5-4 decision and on Saturday Eastern also lost 6-7.

The Eastern offense had nine or more hits in all four games.  Leading the way were Steve Irvine who went 6-16 and Blake Mounce 6-15.  Irvine hit three doubles, scored six runs, drove in five, stole five bases and walked four times.  He reached base 13 times in the series.  Mounce had a double, scored two runs, drove in three and stole four bases.  Nate Pettus hit two home runs in the series and drove in six.  Gunner Glad was 5-13 with two doubles, two home runs, five runs scored, five runs batted in, six walks, a hit by pitch and four stolen bases.

On the mound, the Mountaineers four starters all turned in performances worthy of a win.  Jimmy Johnson started Tuesday and surrendered three runs in 4.2 inning of work.  Wednesday, Chance Deason went 6.1 innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out six.  Saturday, Ashton Mowdy continued his mound dominance with a six inning two run performance.  He struck out six.  Gunner Glad picked up the win in the finale.  He tossed seven innings and allowed four runs while striking out four.  Carter Browning three five innings of relief and didn’t allow an earned run while striking out five.

Eastern will play their final Bi-State Conference series this week against the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.  The two teams will hook up in Fort Smith Wednesday at 5:00 pm.  Thursday the two teams will play at 2:00 in Wilburton.  The series heads back to Fort Smith Saturday at 5:00 pm.  The finale of the four game series will be in Wilburton Sunday at 1:00 pm.