Boxscore
EDMOND (April 3) – Central Oklahoma rallied with 11 runs over the last three innings, but it wasn't enough as the Bronchos lost a wild 21-19 decision to Fort Hays State Thursday afternoon at Wendell Simmons Field.
The loss snapped an 11-game home winning streak and dropped UCO to 22-8 on the season and 17-8 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Tigers improved to 11-18 overall and 9-16 in the MIAA.
The Bronchos led 8-6 in the fifth inning before an error opened the door for FHSU, which scoreed 11 runs -- 10 of them unearned -- in the inning to seize a 16-8 lead.
The Tigers scored five more runs in the sixth with the help of three walks and a hit batter to increase their lead to 21-8.
UCO issued eight walks and hit four batters while the defense committed four errors as FHSU needed just 13 hits to score its 21 runs.
Phillip Wilson started UCO's rally in the bottom of the sixth with his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot that just sneaked over the wall in right field.
Needing to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to continue the game, Jake O'Brien connected for a three-run homer, his first of the season. Two batters later, Dilon Argo belted his fifth homer of the season and then Matt Johnson came through with a two-run single to pull the Bronchos with 21-16.
A Tiger miscue opened the door for UCO in the eighth as Robbie Hoffman reached on an error to start the inning. Dylan Raper ran for Hoffman and scored on another error and then Tyler Crabtree singled home a run to make it 21-18.
The inning ended, however, on a bizarre double play. Crabtree took off for second as Wilson swung and missed for strike three but came across the plate trying to reach the ball outside. Wong broke for home when the catcher threw to second, but the umpire called Wilson on interference with the catcher and ended the inning.
The ninth inning had a promising start as Josh Ingram led off the inning with a double. He advanced to third on a single by Matt Johnson and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Stoup to cut the deficit to 21-19 before the Tigers were able to close it out.
Wilson finished 5-for-6 with two doubles, a home run and three runs batted in. O'Brien also went 5-for-6 with three RBI and Johnson went 3-for-6 with his 11th homer of the season and four RBI.
The four-game series continues Friday with a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader.
