Long Ball Lifts Baseball Past OCU in Game One on Sunday

CRETE, Neb. — Doane baseball used a three-run fifth inning highlighted by a pair of home runs to slip past Oklahoma City, 5-4, in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at the Doane Ballfield Complex.

After Oklahoma City grabbed the early lead with two runs in the second, Doane answered in the bottom half when Jett Grossart delivered an RBI single to score Kai Burkey (courtesy runner) and cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Stars pushed the margin to 3-1 in the fourth on an RBI double, but Doane responded again in the home half. A walk to Tanner Nelson and a courtesy runner in Burkey set the table before Brayden Jones blooped an RBI single to right-center to make it 3-2.

Doane's decisive swing came in the fifth. With two outs, Sam Kwapnioski launched a solo home run to right, and after Jordan Bond doubled to right-center, Johnny Vulcano followed with a two-run blast to left to put the Tigers in front, 5-3.

Oklahoma City threatened in the sixth, plating one run on an RBI single to pull within 5-4, but Doane's bullpen closed the door from there.

Gabe Rodriguez earned the win on the mound, striking out eight over five innings. Cade Bridges picked up the save with two innings of relief, working around late traffic to preserve the one-run victory.

At the plate, Doane collected nine hits, led by Kwapnioski (2-for-2, HR, RBI, BB), Vulcano (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Bond (2-for-3, 2B, run). Nelson reached base three times (1-for-1, two walks) as the Tigers improved to 5-2 on the season.

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