ONU GETS BACK IN WIN COLUMN; TAKE TWO-OUT-OF-FOUR IN MISSOURI 

FAYETTE, Mo. –  The Olivet Nazarene University baseball team snapped a nine-game skid with a pair of come-from-behind wins at the Show-Me Showdown Thursday and Friday in Fayette, Mo. The Tigers took down MidAmerica Nazarene 9-7 Thursday before downing Columbia (Mo.) in a comeback 8-7 win Friday.

The Tigers ultimately split the doubleheaders on each day, wrapping Thursday with a 10-3 setback against Central Methodist. They opened Friday with a 5-0 loss to Missouri Baptist before picking up the win over Columbia.

The Purple & Yellow Gold found themselves in a big hole early against MidAmerica Nazarene, with the Pioneers pushing five runs across the first two frames in building a 5-0 lead early. But Taylor Steig ignited an ONU rally with a 2-RBI single in the third inning and eventually scampered home on a wild pitch. After Joeseph Jimenez cut the deficit to one with an RBI single, Donovan Yelle launched a two-run homer to give the Tigers a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning.

The fifth inning rally didn't stop there, with Jordan Rhoden lifting a 2-RBI double to left to extend the lead to 8-5. Back-to-back Patriot homeruns cut the ONU lead to one, but a Jacob Burt plated Sam Reczek with an RBI single up the middle to notch an insurance run in the seventh. The lead would hold at 9-7 from there.

Matthew Derkacy picked up the win in relief, going 2.2 innings of two-run ball to pick up the first win of his career. Jeffrey Vest pitched the final two innings to pick up the save, only allowing one baserunner over the two frames.

ONU sent out 14 hits in the win over Columbia. After the Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a home run in the first, Steig continued his strong series with a two-run shot of his own to tie the game. But Columbia poured on three runs in the second and another in the third to take a commanding four-run lead.

Yelle and Steig both plated runs with RBIs in the third inning to cut the lead to two. The Cougars extended the lead back to three in the fourth, but the Tigers would close out the game with four unanswered runs to collect the win.

Vest was credited with the win, pitching another scoreless innings in relief. Steig led the offense with his four RBIs.

The Tigers will open CCAC play with a home-opening doubleheader against St. Ambrose at Watson Field on March 12. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu