STAYIN' ALIVE: OKWU thumps foe to stay in chase for World Series
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Connor Hickey (46) keeps his eye on the ball in the outfield during an earlier season game. The Eagles dropped their first game in the NAIA tournament, but bounced back with a win. They play again today at 2 p.m. in Hattiesburg, Miss.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
May 14, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Oklahoma Wesleyan University took a brief detour with a loss but got back on Contention Highway on Tuesday in the NAIA baseball regionals.
After falling on Monday to the University of British Columbia, 9-3, the OKWU Eagles swooped back Tuesday to hammer William Carey (Miss.) University, 16-11, in Hattiesburg, Miss.
OKWU (47-10) — which is coached by Kirk Kelley — has to keep winning to stay alive in the quest for a berth in the NAIA World Series.
The Eagles — who are trying to get back to the NAIA WS for the first time since 2021 — face a win-or-done game Wednesday in Hattiesburg.
BRITISH COLUMBIA 9, OKWU 3: BC surged to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and led 6-0 prior to OKWU scoring its first run.
British Columbia scored eight of its runs on extra base hits.
OKWU batters scattered nine hits, led by Connor Hickey and Chase Pinheiro with two apiece. Hickey blasted a solo homer.
Pinch-hitter Edinson Renteria drove in two runs
Evan Foor suffered a rare loss for OKWU, scattering 12 hits and giving up six earned runs. He allowed only one walk and struck out five with Braydon Caldwell as his catcher.
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OKWU 16, WILLIAM CAREY 11: OKWU stormed to nine runs in the top of the seventh to lead, 15-3, and held on.
Ravaughn Morgan mashed two doubles and a single, and drove in two runs, to set the pace at the top of the Eagles’ lineup.
Javier Marcial added two singles and four RBI, while Luis Antigua and Victor Sanchez plated three runs apiece. Antigua belted a triple.
Brenden Poindexter delivered a sacrifice bunt to help fuel OKWU’s offense.
Kelley went six pitchers deep to secure the win. Starter Michael Mendoza (11-2) earned the win 5.2 innings, allowing only three hits and three earned runs.
Matthew Weidkamp, Hunter Hansen, Cole Hancock, Brealen Pippin and Alan Covarrubias each took turns pitching the final three innings.
Covarrubias, a Bartlesville High graduate, closed out the win and didn’t allow any hits or runs in 0.2 innings. He struck out one.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Jorge Aldrete (23) lets a high pitch go by during earlier season action. The Eagles dropped their first game in the NAIA tournament, but bounced back with a win. They play again today at 2 p.m. in Hattiesburg, Miss.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports