SALINA, Kan. — A late offensive surge put Tabor in position, but a pivotal seventh inning swung momentum the other direction as the Bluejays fell 9-7 to Oklahoma Wesleyan in the opening round of the KCAC Baseball Tournament on Tuesday morning at Dean Evans Stadium.
Tabor (25-24) totaled 11 hits and erased an early deficit with a five-run seventh inning, but Oklahoma Wesleyan answered immediately to regain control and hold on down the stretch.
Game Flow
First Inning
Oklahoma Wesleyan struck first, using a leadoff home run to take a quick 1-0 advantage. Tabor starter Wyatt Bauer settled in after the opening swing, limiting further damage.
Second & Third Innings
Bauer worked efficiently through the next two frames, keeping the Eagles off the board while the Bluejay offense looked to find its rhythm against Oklahoma Wesleyan starter Alex Garcia.
Fourth Inning
The Eagles added to their lead in the fourth, pushing across a run to make it 2-0. Tabor again kept the deficit manageable, but continued to search for timely offense.
Fifth Inning
Tabor broke through in the top half of the inning. The Bluejays manufactured their first run of the game to cut the deficit to 2-1.
However, Oklahoma Wesleyan responded immediately with a three-run bottom half, capitalizing on walks and timely hits to extend the lead to 5-1 — a key early turning point.
Sixth Inning
Bauer bounced back with a scoreless sixth, giving Tabor a chance to climb back into the game.
Seventh Inning — Turning Point
Tabor delivered its biggest offensive inning of the day in the seventh.
The Bluejays erupted for five runs, highlighted by a three-run home run from Easton Norris and multiple extra-base hits, including key doubles from Cole Schieffer. The rally flipped the score to 6-5 in favor of Tabor and shifted momentum firmly to the Bluejays.
Oklahoma Wesleyan answered immediately in the bottom half, regaining control with a four-run inning, including a two-run homer. The quick response proved to be the decisive swing, putting the Eagles back on top 9-6.
Eighth Inning
Reliever Will Beckmann worked a clean inning to keep the deficit at three and give Tabor a final opportunity.
Ninth Inning
Tabor pushed across one final run in the ninth, but the comeback attempt fell short as Oklahoma Wesleyan secured the 9-7 decision.
Offensive Standouts
- Cole Schieffer: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB
- Easton Norris: 3-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI
- Eric Calder: 1-for-5, RBI
- Jack Kiser: 1-for-4, 2B, R
- Ethan Crawford: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
Tabor recorded four doubles and a home run among its 11 hits, with six different players contributing base hits.
Pitching Breakdown
- Wyatt Bauer (L): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
- Settled in after a first-inning homer and delivered multiple scoreless frames, but was tagged in the fifth inning as Oklahoma Wesleyan built its lead.
- Will Beckmann: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
- Worked through the late innings, including a clean eighth to keep Tabor within striking distance.
Key Team Stats
- Tabor: 7 runs, 11 hits, 1 error, 7 left on base
- Oklahoma Wesleyan: 9 runs, 9 hits, 0 errors, 6 left on base
Tabor out-hit Oklahoma Wesleyan but was hurt by six walks issued and two home runs allowed.
Up Next
Tabor will continue play in the KCAC Baseball Tournament with an elimination game against Ottawa on Thursday, looking to build on the offensive momentum shown in the later innings.
Be sure to stay up to date with all information regarding Bluejay Athletics by following us on X at @gotaborbluejays, on Instagram and Facebook @taborbluejays, and on our official athletic website, taborbluejays.com.
Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).
