Boxscore
JOPLIN, Mo. (April 19) -- Phillip Wilson and Cesar Wong hit back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the ninth inning to spark a three-run rally that lifted Central Oklahoma to an 8-6 win over Missouri Southern Saturday afternoon.
Wilson's 13th homer of the season to lead off the ninth tied the game at six and Wong gave the Bronchos the lead on the next pitch when he connected on his second homer of the game and third of the season. UCO added an insurance run later in the inning when Dilon Argo doubled in Matt Johnson.
Wilson took over on the mound for the bottom of the ninth and allowed the tying run to reach on a pair of infield singles with one out before ending the game with a double play to earn his third save of the series.
"This was a flat out battle in every phase of the game," head coach Dax Leone said. "Baseball is and always will be the ultimate game about the players. Next weekend at home versus Central Missouri for the conference championship should be a lot of fun."
The Bronchos improved to 32-11 on the season and 25-11 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play, setting up a showdown with league-leading and No. 19-ranked Central Missouri next weekend at Wendell Simmons Field. The Mules are 29-7 in the MIAA, so UCO would have to sweep the four-game series to tie for the regular season league title.
The Bronchos were trailing 6-3 entering the seventh inning when Wong belted a two-run homer to make it 6-5. He connected again in the ninth for the go-ahead run.
The bullpen kept UCO in the game, and gave the offense a chance to rally as it allowed just one run on four hits over the final seven innings.
Landon Hallam had his best outing of the season, allowing just two hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. Kylar Trumbla got the final two outs of the eighth inning and was the beneficiary of UCO's ninth-inning rally in earning his first win of the season.
The Bronchos return home to face non-conference opponent Southwest Christian on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., before the final conference series against UCM begins on Friday.
