Box Score
EDMOND (Feb. 21) – An anemic offensive effort combined with a pair of devastating Abilene Christian scoring outbursts doomed Central Oklahoma as the Bronchos dropped their third straight decision, 14-2 at Broncho Field here Saturday afternoon.
UCO struggled in the cold and blustery conditions, managing a season-low three base hits, and the Bronchos saw a game deadlocked at 2-2 through five innings become an insurmountable deficit as the Wildcats plated eight runs in the seventh followed by an additional four scores in the eighth to cap off the run-rule victory.
The Bronchos, 4-6 overall and 2-4 in Lone Star Conference play, will now prep for the final two games of the series as the rivals collide in doubleheader action Sunday at 11 a.m.
“We were right in the game through the first six innings,” said UCO head coach Wendell Simmons. “Our pitching really kept things tight early, but everything fell apart in the seventh and our offense was never able to mount any kind of pressure. We just have to put this game behind us and get ready for tomorrow.”
UCO starter Brian Murphy (0-1) kept the Bronchos within striking distance through his first six innings of work on the mound. The senior right-hander surrendered an unearned run in the top of the first before scattering just two base hits over his next three frames as UCO continued to trail 1-0 through four complete innings.
A two-out walk was followed by a run-scoring double as ACU gained a two-run advantage in the top of the fifth before the Bronchos showed their only signs of life in the bottom half of the inning. Wade Gordy's walk triggered a two-out rally as Blake Mitchell stroked a RBI triple down the right-field line before Nate Mitani followed with a run-scoring double as UCO knotted up the contest at 2-2.
After a scoreless sixth, the Wildcats finally touched up Murphy to begin the seventh as three singles and a wild pitch scored two runs before the senior was lifted in favor of the bullpen. ACU continued to roll offensively as a pair of walks and a double plated two more runs before another double, a single and a run-scoring groundout ceased the scoring at eight runs.
Leading 10-2, the Wildcats tacked on four more runs in the eighth while the Bronchos went down in order in their final two trips to the plate, succumbing to the run-rule victory.
Murphy absorbed the loss, tossing 6 1/3 innings while allowing four earned runs on eight base hits and striking out five. Ryan Wagner and Austin Baker combined to round out the Broncho effort on the mound.
Mitani provided two of UCO's three base hits while Mitchell's RBI triple accounted for the third, the lowest number of base hits for the Bronchos through their first 10 games of the season.
