University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

A Winning Start

2/8/2011 11:28:34 PM

Ryan Schoonover

Box Score

CEDAR HILL, Texas (Feb. 8) -- Ryan Schoonover drilled a solo home run on the second pitch of the game to give Central Oklahoma lead it would never relinquish and the Bronchos went on to topple Northwood 7-6 in the 2011 season opener here Tuesday.

UCO held off a ninth-inning rally to give first-year head coach Dax Leone a win in his debut with the Bronchos.

“We played really well and it was a great way to start the season,” said Leone, who took over the helm last summer. “Our defense was solid throughout the game and we made some things happen offensively. We got a little wild on the mound at the end to let them back in the game, but hung on and beat a good team.”

Schoonover's lead-off homer gave the Bronchos a 1-0 lead and Derik Grimes added a two-run shot in the fifth to keep UCO in front, with the lead eventually growing to 7-3 through seven innings.

The Bronchos issued five walks in the final two innings and Northwood nearly took advantage, using those free passes and one hit to get close. UCO was clinging to a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the ninth with one out and runners on second and third when Josh Rolan took the mound to close out the game.

The junior right-hander gave up a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6 before getting a game-ending groundout to register the first save of his UCO career.

Starter Aaron Rosborough picked up the pitching win, giving up just one hit and one run while striking out four in the first four innings. Seven pitchers saw action in the contest.

The Bronchos finished with 14 hits, getting three-hit performances from Grimes and Taylor Brown and two-hit outings from Schoonover, Tyler Hancock, Kevin Blue and Mac Gordon.

UCO is slated to open Lone Star Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at West Texas A&M on Saturday and Sunday.

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories