Bucher lifts Oran to short, lopsided win

ORAN, Mo. -- Oran soared to a Class 1A sectional win with a storybook finish Wednesday.

Matt Bucher, Oran's only senior, belted a walk-off grand-slam homer in his final home game to send the Eagles to a 15-2 win over Bernie and into the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

Oran will play Friday at Advance, a 3-2 winner over Ellington in eight innings.

With Oran ahead 11-2, Bucher hit a drive over the left-field fence to end the five-inning contest on the 10-run rule.

"I didn't know it was out until I rounded second," he said. "When I saw it go over the fence, I just said 'Whew.'"

Oran (18-4) wasted no time getting the offense rolling against Bernie (11-5) while also taking advantage of a shaky start by the Mules' Daniel Edmonds, the losing pitcher.

Leadoff batter Nathan Seyer was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Ryne Wood's RBI single.

After Wood advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw from Edmonds, Tyler Cookson drilled a liner over the head of the leaping Bernie left fielder to drive home Wood.

Cookson was thrown out at third base on a fielder's choice off a Trey Graviett grounder before another wild pickoff attempt sent Graviett to second base. He scored on Bucher's single to send Oran up 3-0.

The Eagles added two more runs in the bottom of the second after Bernie closed the gap to 3-1.

Bernie tacked on another run in the fourth, while holding Oran scoreless in the third and fourth innings, to trail by only 5-2.

"We've been hitting the ball well all year, so I thought it would come around," Oran coach Mitch Wood said. "It took us a little while to get going."

In the fifth inning, the Eagles got going as they exploded for 10 runs. Beside Bucher's slam, Graviett blasted a two-run homer. Oran sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning.

Bucher went 3-for-4 to lead Oran, while Cookson and designated hitter Garrett Roslen had two hits each. Zach Dill had two hits for Bernie.

Ryne Wood (6-1) tossed a four-hitter to gain the win. Wood struck out four, walked none and hit one batter.

"It felt great to come out and get some runs," Ryne Wood said. "Then I just had to throw strikes and let it happen."

Oran's defense backed Wood well, particularly shortstop Matt Seyer who had five assists and a putout. Seyer went deep into the hole at short twice to rob Bernie hitters and then rifled perfect strikes to first base.

"We struggled a little bit at the beginning of the season, but we're coming together at the right time," said Bucher of his team, which has won nine straight games.

llewis@semissourian.com

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