Late-Game Comebacks

2/18/2010 6:50:50 PM

Brittany Weaver

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

EDMOND (Feb. 18) – Late rallies lifted Central Oklahoma to a pair of one-run upsets of No. 8-ranked Missouri Western Thursday afternoon as the Bronchos continued an impressive early-season surge.

UCO pulled out a 10-9 triumph in the opener behind a three-run sixth inning comeback and the Bronchos made it even more dramatic in the nightcap, scoring three runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for a thrilling 7-6 victory.

Molly Shivers and Kelsie Deckard were the heroes in the first game, while Kayce Raines and Kacie Edwards had the big hits in the second to help UCO improve to 6-0.

“We still made a lot of mistakes, but as long as we keep hitting the ball like we are I guess it works out,” said head coach Genny Stidham, whose team returns to action Friday with a 1 p.m. home doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico. “We had a bunch of different players step up and deliver some really big hits today and we came out with two great wins.”

The Griffons, coming off a 47-12 season, had overcome a 5-0 deficit to take a 9-6 lead in top of the fifth inning of the first game before UCO staged its first comeback.

The Bronchos got a run back in their half of the fifth on Brittany Weaver's RBI single and then followed with the three-run volley in the sixth to take the lead. Shivers' run-scoring double made it 9-8 and Deckard followed with a two-run double to right-center field to put UCO in front.

MWSU nearly tied the game in the top of the seventh, but Deckard threw the potential tying run out at the plate from her first base spot to end the game.

Shivers ripped a three-run home run in the third to help stake the Bronchos to a 5-0 lead through three innings before the Griffons rallied to go on top 9-6 and set the stage for UCO's late heroics.

Deckard finished 4-for-4 at the plate, while Shivers had three hits and four RBI in addition to earning the pitching win in relief. UCO also got two-hit games from Raines, Edwards and Megan Bentley in finishing with 15 hits.

UCO trailed 6-4 entering its final at bat in the nightcap and had runners on first and third with two outs when Rachel Lowery drew a crucial walk. Raines then came through with a clutch single to right-center field that scored two runs to tie it and Edwards followed with a game-winning single.

Edwards keyed UCO's nine-hit attack with a 3-for-4, three-RBI performance, while Weaver added two hits. Shivers again picked up the pitching win in relief.

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