2012 GAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HOME PAGE
ENID, Okla. – Southern Arkansas’ Jason Dahl sent a towering fly ball over the right center field fence in the bottom of the 11th inning to give his team a 4-3 victory over Ouachita Baptist on Monday in the finals of theinaugural Great American Conference Championship Tournament. OBU defeated SAU by the same score earlier on Monday.
Dahl was also responsible for forcing the game into extra innings after collecting an RBI double down the right field line in the bottom of the ninth.
Ouachita Baptist (30-26) started the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI single from Brock Green. Southern Arkansas (36-15) answered with Dahl’s first RBI of the day with a single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the second inning to score Ryan Dardenne, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
OBU scored its final two runs in the top of the third on a two-run triple to right center field by Brock Green.
SAU’s Justin Thomas (5-2) was credited the win after keeping the Tigers scoreless and hitless in the final 5.2 innings, while adding six strikeouts and walking just two. Thomas was named the tournament’s most valuable player after recording two wins and a save, and not allowing a run in 8.2 innings of work throughout the event.
Davis Ward (6-6) took the loss for OBU after allowing two runs off four hits with one strikeout and one walk in the final 5.1 innings.
In the first game on Monday, OBU jumped out to quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on back-to-back bases-loaded walks from Parker Norris and Landon Flax.
SAU reached the scoreboard with an RBI single from Trey Buck in the top of the third inning to score Gavin McCauley, who walked and stole second base.
OBU took a 3-1 lead on an errant pickoff throw in the bottom of the third. SAU answered in top of the fifth with an RBI double from Rafael Thomas, cuttingOBU’s lead to 3-2.
The Tigers scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth frame on an RBI double from Keegan Ghidotti to score Clayton Brandt, who led off the inningwith a walk.
SAU rallied in the ninth to score one run on an RBI groundout from Rafael Thomas, but the Muleriders left two runners on base when Ryan Dardenne grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
OBU starter Ryan Westover (6-5) earned the win after allowing three runs off six hits with six strikeouts and eight walks in the first innings. Teammate Zac Treece earned his third save of the tournament, and seventh of the year, after keeping SAU scoreless and hitless in the ninth. SAU’s Doug Shields (8-2) took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) off six hits with three strikeouts and four walks in the first four innings.
2012 GAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Justin Thomas, Pitcher, Southern Arkansas (Most Valuable Player)
Trey Buck, Shortstop, Southern Arkansas
Jason Dahl, Outfielder, Southern Arkansas
Gavin McCauley, Outfielder, Southern Arkansas
Brady Capshaw, Third Baseman, Southern Arkansas
Tom Ward, Catcher, Ouachita Baptist
Duncan Collins, Second Baseman, Ouachita Baptist
Ryan Westover, Pitcher, Ouachita Baptist
Keegan Ghidotti, Outfielder, Ouachita Baptist
Zac Treece, Pitcher, Ouachita Baptist
Spencer Barnett, Second Baseman, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Brandon Marris, Pitcher, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Levi Lewis, Pitcher, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Cesar Abreu, Second Baseman, Arkansas Tech
Thomas Biocic, First Baseman, Arkansas Tech