EDMOND (Feb. 14) – Landon Hallam allowed just one run over six innings of work and Central Oklahoma defeated Arkansas-Fort Smith, 11-1, in its season opener Friday afternoon at Wendell Simmons Field.

Hallam scattered four hits and walked two as he got all the run support he needed in the first inning. Dilon Argo singled home Tyler Crabtree and Brad Lamberti added an opposite field solo home run to stake the Bronchos to an early 2-0 lead.

Hallam retired 12 of the first 14 hitters he faced before the Lions were able to scratch out a couple of singles in the fifth. UAFS finally got on the board in the sixth, Hallam's final inning of work.

Crabtree reached base four times, scored three times and stole two bases. Lamberti finished 3-for-5 with three runs batted in, adding RBI singles in the fifth and seventh innings.

UCO  broke the game open in the seventh after entering the frame with a comfortable 5-1 lead.

Ethan Elroy got the scoring started in the seventh with an RBI double down the left field line and Phillip Wilson plated two more runs with a single up the middle. Matt Johnson added a sacrifice fly and Lamberti came through with his third RBI of the game.

Jared Sterling, who entered as a pinch runner to start the inning, blooped a pop fly just behind first base that fell in for a single and scored Argo to end the game early on the 10-run rule.

The same two teams return to the diamond Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Wendell Simmons Field. Mason Justice will get the nod on the mound for the Bronchos.