Zach Schulze had an awesome night on the mound going the distance and striking out 12 helping Oak secure the win against Klein Forest 11-2.

 

The top of the first brought up lead off JP Phillips who singled to put Oak's first runner on. A walk by Jacob Fowler followed by an RBI single by Steven Butler scored Phillips. Cody Emerson was hit by a pitch and Zach Schulze's walk loaded the bases and walked home Fowler. The inning ended with Oak scoring two going into the bottom of the first.

Schulze retired the side 1-2-3 with three quick strikeouts and the Panthers switched sides again. Phillips singled in the second and Fowler was hit by a ptich. Butler beat out an error on a single and scored Phillips and the inning ended with Oak up one more.

Schulze returned to the mound and allowed one of only five hits to put a runner on for Forest. An error at first by Oak put on another runner and scored the first but Schulze quickly recovered and struck out the next three in succession to end the inning. 

 

Both teams were scoreless in the third as four Panthers came to the plate in the top of the inning but left the only hitter, Zach Schulze on base as the half ended with only the one single. In the bottom of the third, Schulze again allowed only one hit and the runner was stranded as Schulze struck out two and a 4-5 play ended the inning for Forest.

 

Oak started the top of the 4th ahead 3-1 and added to their lead with a single bunt by Phillips and a double by Steven Butler that drove him home. Emerson followed with a single but both were stranded and Forest returned to the plate. 

 

The first batter singled but was eventually thrown out a third with a great throw by Graham Lange to Chris Thompson sent him back to the dug out. Another single by Forest put another runner on and Schulze struck out the third batter. A double by Forest scored one but Schulze took care of the next batter with a well needed strikeout ending the side.

 

It was quick inning for both sides as Will Hoffman was hit by a pitch and Matt Sloan reached on a single. Both were stranded and Klein Forest came up to bat again. Schulze made fast work of the first three batters with a 4-3 play and two strikeouts to bring up the top of the 6th where Oak came alive.

 

Fowler started the rally with a single followed by a walk for Lange. Thompson singled and scored Fowler and Schulze singled putting Lange across the plate. Quick reflexes by Thompson put him across the plate on an error and a Hoffmans single put him on first and Schulze across the plate for the 4th run of the inning. Hoffmans scored on a passed ball and two walks by Cody Steele and Travis Arthur loaded the bases for Oak. A well timed double by Fowler brought in an additional 2 runs. Nick Bradley singled and a fielder's choice ended the rally for Oak but not before they scored 7.

 

Zach took the mound for the bottom of the 6th and the defense went to work behind him. A 6-3 play, a fly out to right fielder Nick Bradley and a 4-3 play kept Forest off the bases and Oak took home the win.  Great night Zach!!