CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | ENID, Okla. – Oklahoma Baptist earned a trip to the 2018 Great American Conference Baseball Championships title game with a 4-3 extra-inning victory against Arkansas Tech. The Wonder Boys overcame a three-run deficit in the ninth to force extras before Oklahoma Baptist’s Jake Gozzo won the game with a bases loaded single.
 
Oklahoma Baptist (31-15) will make its first appearance in the GAC championship game in the school’s first year of eligibility as a full-time member of the NCAA. Over the past three seasons, the Bison have won 23 straight postseason games.

Down three entering the ninth inning, the Wonder Boys’ first two batters reached safely off Andrew Eppenbach. Caleb Bly came entered and hit Kyle Gibbs with a fastball to load the bases. Bly struck out Jake Harvey on a ball in the dirt and Riley Hickerson drove in Mark Vaughn with a sacrifice fly.
 
Down to his final strike, Korey Thompson extended the Wonder Boys’ season with a base hit into left that scored Gibbs and Britt Stroth to tie the gam. Oklahoma Baptist put a runner on with two out, but did not score in the home half of the ninth.
 
Three straight Bison reached to load the bases and set the stage for Gozzo. He lifted a drive to right field to Bloomfield and set off a wild celebration beyond first base.
 
Juan Gonzalez gave the Bison a the lead in the first inning when the unanimous First Team All-GAC selection hit a towering solo home run over the wall in left. They added two more in the third inning to increase their advantage 3-0. Zane Gelphman drove in Bloomfield with a sacrifice fly. Gozzo lined a single up the middle to score Gonzalez.
 
Making just his third start of the 2018 campaign, Thomas Shroder threw a season-high 7.0 innings and left in line for the win. The junior allowed four hits and struck out three. Gozzo’s late-game heroics helped Caleb Bly earn the win, his seventh, after he registered three strikeouts in his 2.0 innings of work..
 
Arkansas Tech’s Zack Kesterson held the powerful Bison offense to three earned runs on five hits. Kesterson struck out 11 in his seven innings of work.
 
The Bison face Southern Arkansas Tuesday at noon with the Great American Conference Baseball Championship on the line. If the Muleriders win, the two teams will play a deciding game at 3:30 p.m.