Box Score
EMPORIA, Kan. (May 14) – Angelo State used a big three-run home run in the fifth inning to break open a close game and hand Central Oklahoma a 4-0 setback in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional here Friday afternoon.
The Bronchos managed only five hits and didn't advance a runner past second base until the seventh inning in falling into a Saturday elimination game.
The No. 19-ranked Rambelles had just six hits, but Alix Dean's long three-run homer in the fifth turned a slim 1-0 lead into a 4-0 advantage and UCO couldn't answer back.
“We played well defensively and made a lot of good pitches, but Angelo got a couple of big hits and that was the difference,” UCO coach Genny Stidham said. “We couldn't get anything going with our bats and just have to bounce back tomorrow.”
The Bronchos, now 32-20 on the year, will take on Texas Woman's -- 1-0 losers to Emporia State in Friday's other first-round game -- in a loser's bracket game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Click here for the tournament website, which includes live scoring.
ASU, which improved to 44-12, will meet the tournament host Lady Hornets at 10 a.m. Saturday. Another elimination game is on tap for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, with the championship finals set for Sunday.
The Rambelles broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the third on Dean's two-out RBI single and it stayed that way until the fifth. A walk and hit batter put runners on base for Dean, who came through again with a moon shot over the right field fence.
UCO's only real scoring threat came in the top of the seventh when Brittany Weaver had a two-out infield single and Brittany Geter followed with a base hit to left. That put runners on first and third, but the Rambelles got Kayce Raines to pop up for the last out of the game.
Megan Bentley was stranded at second after leading off the sixth with a double and the only other hits were singles by Niki Hunt in the second and Rachel Lowery in the third.
Rachael Steverson took the pitching loss, giving up five hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings. Molly Shivers allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief work.
