Baseball Sweeps Four-Game with Oklahoma City

CRETE, Neb. — Doane baseball capped a perfect weekend Sunday afternoon, defeating Oklahoma City 6-1 to sweep both the day's doubleheader and the four-game series at the Doane Ballfield Complex.

The Tigers finished the weekend 4-0 against the Stars, improving to 6-2 on the season while outscoring Oklahoma City 21-7 across the series.

Doane struck first in the opening inning when Johnny Vulcano delivered an RBI single through the left side to score Sam Kwapnioski, who had doubled earlier in the frame.

After Oklahoma City tied the game in the fourth on an RBI single, the Tigers quickly regained control. Carter Roth reached on an error and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Vulcano to give Doane a 2-1 lead after three innings.

The decisive moment came in the fifth when Doane broke the game open with four runs on four hits. Roth singled to start the rally, followed by a base hit from Kwapnioski and an RBI single by Jordan Bond. Moments later, Grant Sommers delivered the biggest swing of the game, blasting a three-run home run to left-center to push the Tigers' advantage to 6-1.

That was more than enough for starting pitcher Nicolas Yard, who was dominant on the mound. Yard tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out four and walking one. He induced two double plays and needed only 69 pitches to finish the seven-inning contest, improving to 2-0 on the year.

At the plate, Doane totaled 10 hits, led by Bond (2-for-3, RBI), Kwapnioski (2-for-3, double, two runs, walk), and Max Harris (2-for-3). Sommers drove in three runs with his home run, while Roth scored twice from the leadoff spot.

The Tigers' pitching staff was particularly strong throughout the series, posting a 1.93 earned run average and striking out 31 batters while only walking five.

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