University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Late Rally Earns UCO Key Split

4/16/2011 9:47:28 PM

Hannah Justus

Game One Box
Game Two Box

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (April 16) -- Megan Whitmire's run-scoring double in the eighth inning lifted Central Oklahoma to a huge 2-1 second-game upset of No. 2-ranked Midwestern State here Saturday afternoon as the Bronchos split a crucial Lone Star Conference North Division doubleheader.

The league-leading Mustangs won the opener 2-0 before UCO rallied to win the nightcap and stay alive in its bid for a berth in the LSC Tournament. The Bronchos, now 23-19 overall and 6-8 in the LSC North, end the three-game series against MSU (40-6, 9-2) with a single game at 2 p.m. Sunday.

"That was a huge win for us," UCO coach Genny Stidham said. "We played pretty well today and gave ourselves a chance in both games and got out of here with a win we had to have. It's another big game tomorrow and hopefully we'll come out ready to play."

The Bronchos, who had just four hits in losing the first game, trailed 1-0 in the nightcap before drawing even in the top of the fifth inning. Brittany Weaver was hit by pitch to start the tying rally, with the junior second baseman going to second on Hannah Justus' single before scoring on Brittany Geter's base hit to left field.

UCO came up with a key defensive play in the bottom of the sixth when right fielder Carly Skinner threw out a runner at the plate to prevent MSU from scoring the go-ahead run.

The Bronchos broke the 1-1 deadlock in the top of the eighth with a two-out rally. Megan Bentley ignited that with a single, Kacie Edwards followed with another base hit and Whitmire came through with a double that scored Bentley for the go-ahead run.

The Mustangs tried to answer with a two-out rally of their own in the bottom of the eighth, getting a double and a walk to put runners at first and second, but Rachael Steverson got MSU's leading hitter to bounce into a game-ending groundout.

Whitmire ended up with two of UCO's six hits in the contest.

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