Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles Dominates Ave Maria in Three-Game Series
Oklahoma Wesleyan delivered a powerful display of both offense and pitching over the course of a three-game series against Ave Maria, going 3 for 3 in the series. The series highlighted the team's offensive depth and strong pitching performances that kept Ave Maria's offense in check throughout the weekend.

Game 1: Oklahoma Wesleyan 9, Ave Maria 2

Oklahoma Wesleyan's offense came alive in their 9-2 victory over Ave Maria, with a strong performance at the plate and solid contributions across the lineup. The team racked up 13 hits and capitalized on several scoring opportunities. The pitching staff for Oklahoma Wesleyan was effective throughout the game, while the team allowed only 4 hits and kept Ave Maria scoreless for the majority of the game and didn't allow any significant rallies. Ave Maria's only runs came in the bottom of the ninth inning when it was already too late to mount a serious comeback.
Evan Foor's performance was exceptional in this game, as he helped set the tone early and was a key factor in Oklahoma Wesleyan's dominant 9-2 victory over Ave Maria. In his 6 innings of work, he allowed just 3 hits and no runs and added an impressive 8 strikeouts performance. Evan Foor showcased remarkable control and command of his pitches.
Ravaughn Morgan led off the game with a Home Run in a 2-hit performance, adding an RBI and a run. His aggressive approach at the plate set the tone for the game. Victor Sanchez was the star of the day, reaching base four times with a Home Run, showcasing his ability to create offense. Chase Pinheiro also chipped in with 3 hits, adding to the explosive offense. Other key contributors included Jorge Aldrete, who went 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs.

Game 2: Oklahoma Wesleyan 4, Ave Maria 2

Game 2 was a closer matchup, but Oklahoma Wesleyan again proved to be the stronger team, taking the game 4-2.
Mendoza was stellar, throwing 7 innings of dominant baseball, allowing just 2 hits and 1 earned run. He struck out 12 batters and walked only 1, keeping Ave Maria off balance with his combination of off-speed pitches and fastballs. Jack Stangl and Tyler Benefiel came in for relief, with Benefiel earning his second save of the season. Despite a late rally from Ave Maria, the Oklahoma Wesleyan pitching staff held firm and closed out the game.
Offensively, Chase Pinheiro was a key contributor, going 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Javier Marcial added a hit and 2 walks. Alejandro Quiles also chipped in with a hit and an RBI, proving to be a reliable option with runners on base. The offense was opportunistic, capitalizing on limited chances and ensuring the game remained under control.

Game 3: Oklahoma Wesleyan 11, Ave Maria 6

The final game of the series saw Oklahoma Wesleyan's offense explode for 11 runs on 14 hits, defeating Ave Maria 11-6.
The offense came alive with Javier Marcial leading the way, going 3-for-5 with a Home Run, 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Marcial's performance included a key bases-clearing hit that helped the team build a comfortable lead. Luis Antigua 2-4 adding 2 RBIs, and Jorge Aldrete 2-4 with an RBI, also had strong performances at the plate, contributing to the team's explosive offense.
Ashton Luera earned the win, tossing 5 innings of solid baseball, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits and striking out 8. Luera kept Ave Maria from breaking through with any sustained rallies and had help from the bullpen with Alan Covarrubias and Matthew Weidkamp, doing a great job of closing out the game. Covarrubias tossed a perfect 7th inning, Hunter Hansen who came in for the 8th inning, struck out 3 batters in his inning of work, and Weidkamp closed the game in the 9th with 2 strikeouts and no hits allowed.

Series Recap

Over the three-game series, Oklahoma Wesleyan's put on a clinic as the team combined solid pitching with timely hitting. The offense, powered by players like Javier Marcial, Victor Sanchez, Jorge Aldrete, Ravaughn Morgan, Connor Hickey, showcased their depth, producing runs in different innings and from different spots in the lineup. The pitching staff, anchored by Michael Mendoza and Evan Foor, combined to keep Ave Maria in check, allowing just 10 runs over three games while striking out a total of 29 batters.
With this series win, Oklahoma Wesleyan will look to keep the momentum going as they head into their next series against Friends University scheduled for February 14^th-15^th 2025 @ 12:00 PM & 3:00 PM. GO EAGLES!