GOODWELL, Okla. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State baseball team (10-17, 3-12 SAC) played its final game of the home weekend series against Central Christian College (14-15, 9-6 SAC) on Saturday and fell by a final score of 8-4.
The Aggies fought hard to recover from a two-run deficit in the first inning but ultimately lost the fight as walks and errors piled up, giving the Tigers the upper hand.
Central Christian took advantage of a controversial safe-out call at first base, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the first frame to score two runs.
OPSU had an answer in
Julian Payan, a big hitter for the Aggies on the weekend going a combined 4-for-8, who got
Kobe Morgan home on a double to center field that brought the score to 2-1 heading into the second inning.
Panhandle State's next big break came in the bottom of the third inning when both
Juan Perez and
David Garcia launched RBI doubles, which tied the game up at 3-3.
As the contest progressed, the Tigers built a lead and expanded on it, leaving the Aggies behind 8-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. Undeterred, the home team battled at the plate, managing to fill the bases and get
Neugyen Culmer home before ultimately losing the battle on a fly ball to right field.
Genesis Nunez led the OPSU lineup, collecting two hits, two walks, a stolen base, RBI and run in the game.
Braden Germundson was strong out of the bullpen, pitching three scoreless innings and striking out four Tigers.
What's up next: Aggie baseball is back at home on Tuesday, March 24, against Northwestern Oklahoma State University, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
