Boxscore

JOPLIN, Mo. (April 17) – Jake O'Brien hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to break a 1-1 tie and Jared Sterling allowed just one run over seven innings as Central Oklahoma defeated Missouri Southern, 4-1, here Thursday evening.

"Tonight was a battle in all three phases of the game," head coach Dax Leone said. "This win says a lot about the character of this club and its toughness.  Missouri Southern's left-handed pitcher, (Payton) Walker, was outstanding for them and really made us work for everything."

UCO improved to 30-10 in reaching the 30-win mark for the third consecutive season and moved to 23-10 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play.  The Lions fell to 22-20 and 15-18 in the MIAA.

Matt Johnson started the seventh inning with a double and O'Brien followed with his second homer of the season as the Bronchos took a 3-1 lead.  Sterling then doubled -- his fifth double in the last two games -- and eventually scored on a groundout to put the Bronchos up 4-1.

That lead proved to be insurmountable as Phillip Wilson continued his stellar relief work, pitching the final two innings to record his sixth save.  Sterling earned the win and improved to 6-2 on the season as he allowed one run on seven hits while walking one and striking out four.

The Bronchos scored first, plating a run in the second inning as Sterling brought in O'Brien on an infield single.  The Lions tied it an inning later when Jared Lupo scored on a wild pitch.

Sterling and Walker engaged in a pitcher's duel until the Bronchos finally broke through in the seventh inning.  Walker worked seven innings for the Lions and allowed four runs on six hits.

O'Brien and Sterling accounted for all four runs for the Bronchos. O'Brien finished 2-for-4 with a double, homer, two runs batted in and two runs scored, while Sterling went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

The series continues Friday with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. as UCO will look to extend its current four-game winning streak.