PHOENIX, Ariz. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University's baseball team fell in its final Phoenix contest, 12-4, to Ottawa University-Arizona. The Aggies went 0-4 in its 2021 season lid-lifting road trip.
 
After giving up a pair of runs in the first inning, OPSU got a run back in the top of the fifth, with a two-out rally. Starting pitcher Markus Bracey singled, stole second and then came home on Mekhi Edwards' single to center to make it 2-1.
 
But the Spirit would extend its lead with two runs each in the bottom of the fifth and sixth frames. Down 6-1, Panhandle again fought back and, once again, it was Bracey with a key hit by slapping a leadoff double. After moving to third on a grounder by Edwards, Bracey trotted home on Jose Santiago's ground out to the right side.
 
Then, in the top of the eighth, the Aggies put two more runs on the board to make it 6-4. Chris Galvan hit a leadoff single and a Jonathan Applebury double put runners at second and third. That was followed by RBI singles from Chris Schraer and Luis Dermas.
 
Unfortunately for Panhandle, Ottawa erupted for six runs in its half of the eighth to dash any Aggie comeback hopes.
 
Bracey finished the day 2-for-4, with a double and a walk. He also scored a pair of runs.
 
Galvan and Applebury each also went 2-for-4. Both had a double, as well. Tucker Bond had OPSU's fourth double out of the team's 11 hits, overall.
 
Panhandle State will play its first home games of the season on Wednesday (Feb. 3) with a non-conference home doubleheader versus Kansas Wesleyan University.