Bronchos Split At LSC Crossover

4/1/2011 5:37:12 PM

Kacie Edwards

WTAMU Box
TWU Box

SAN ANGELO, Texas (April 1) – Amanda McClelland tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Central Oklahoma to a 7-0 bounce-back rout of Texas Woman's here Friday on the first day of the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament.

The Bronchos dropped a tough 4-3 decision to No. 15-ranked West Texas A&M in their first game before turning right around and taking the field against TWU, but McClelland dominated in the pitching circle in cruising past the Pioneers.

UCO, now 16-15 on the year, takes on No. 2-rated Angelo State and Tarleton State on Saturday before finishing the three-day tournament that pits LSC North and South division teams Sunday against Texas A&M-Kingsville and Abilene Christian.

“I was proud of the way we came back and played against Texas Woman's after losing to WT,” UCO coach Genny Stidham said. “We played well against WT and had a chance, but it just didn't work out at the end. We did a good job putting that game behind us and taking care of business.”

McClelland gave up single hits in the fourth and fifth inning and didn't allow a runner past second base as the freshman improved to 11-8. She struck out six and walked two in ninth complete game outing of the season.

The Bronchos gave McClelland all the support she needed in their initial at bat in the top of the first, pushing across two runs without benefit of a hit. Two walks, a hit batter and an error allowed UCO to take a 2-0 lead and that was more than enough.

It became a 6-0 advantage in the third when Kacie Edwards belted a two-run home run and Katelyn Rouppet an RBI single in a four-run uprising and the Bronchos made it 7-0 on Edwards' run-scoring single in the sixth.

Edwards and Booke Walters had two hits apiece to pace the offense.

The Bronchos nearly pulled off a big upset in their opener, overcoming a 3-0 deficit with three runs in the top of the seventh before the Lady Buffs came back to win it on a two-out bloop base hit in the bottom of that frame.

Rouppet started UCO's sixth inning rally with a lead off solo homer and Kayce Raines tied it with a two-out, two-run single. A pair of walks set up WTAMU's game-winning rally in the bottom of the seventh to thwart the upset bid.

Brittany Geter had two of UCO's seven hits in the contest.

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