OKLAHOMA CITY (April 14) – Nate Mitani drove in four runs in the first two innings and Central Oklahoma jumped to a big early lead en route to a 10-5 victory over Oklahoma Christian Tuesday night under the lights at Dobson Field.
It was the first meeting since 1995 between the two near-by rivals and the Bronchos took control right off the bat, seizing a commanding 9-2 lead after three innings and coasting in the rest of the way behind a pitcher-by-committee performance that saw five players take the mound for UCO.
The Bronchos, who improved to 22-24, return to Lone Star Conference action Friday when they host Eastern New Mexico in the first contest of a crucial four-game series.
“We came out real aggressive at the plate and did a great job of jumping on them like we did,” UCO coach Wendell Simmons said. “We've got a big series coming up this weekend and hopefully this will give us a little momentum.”
The Bronchos wasted little time taking the lead, pushing across four runs in their first at bat. Blake Mitchell opened the game with a bunt single and promptly stole second before scoring on Ryan Schoonver's single up the middle to quickly make it 1-0.
Brent Hodge added a two-run single and Mitani an RBI double in that frame upped the lead to 4-0, with UCO getting five runs in the next two innings after the Eagles scored twice in the bottom of the first.
Mitani did the damage in the second with his second home run of the season, this one a three-run shot to left field. UCO pushed its lead to 9-2 in the third on RBI fielder's choice groundouts by Mitchell and Tyson Fugett and it became 10-2 in the fourth on Andrew Foshee's solo homer to left center.
That was all the scoring by the Bronchos, with OC getting single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth to make it 10-5. The Eagles didn't threaten in their final three at bats.
Mitani's 4-for-5 performance at the plate led UCO's 13-hit attack, while Mitchell, Schoonover and John Bryant added two hits apiece.
Brian Murphy, Ryan Wagner, Tyler Bishop, Zak Wallis and Austin Baker all saw pitching duty for the Bronchos, with Wagner getting credit for the win.
