Box Score

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (March 23 ) – No. 22-ranked Central Oklahoma dropped a 6-1 decision to Missouri Western here Sunday afternoon for its third loss in the four-game weekend series with the defending Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association champions.

"It was a tough weekend as we didn't get the timely hits that we've been getting all season and stranded a lot of runners on base," head coach Dax Leone said.  "Now we'll have to see how we handle the adversity."

UCO lost for the second consecutive time for the first time this season and fell to 17-7 on the season and 13- 7 in the conference, while the Griffons evened their record at 12-12 and 9-9 in conference play.

The Bronchos trailed from the start as MWSU scored three runs in the first inning off starter Landon Hallam, which proved to be all the offense the Griffons needed.

UCO couldn't string together enough hits against Griffon starter Jake Jones. Dylan Tinkler doubled to lead off the second and scored on Dilon Argo's single for the lone run and the Bronchos failed to score after loading the bases in the fifth on three singles.

Ryan Stoup went 2-for-4 with a double for UCO.

The Griffons added three more runs in the fourth that chased Hallam from the game as the Bronchos used five pitchers.

UCO added a non-conference home game to the schedule this week and will host Southwestern Christian at 3 p.m. Wednesday before returning to league play this weekend in a four-game home series against intrastate rival Northeastern State.