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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Trae Smith
9
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 29-20, 21-17 MIAA
7
Nebraska-Kearney UNKBASE 19-29, 16-23 MIAA
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
29-20, 21-17 MIAA
9
Final
7
Nebraska-Kearney UNKBASE
19-29, 16-23 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 4 9 12 2
Nebraska-Kearney UNKBASE 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 0 0 7 16 4

W: McCourt, Ryan (4-2) L: Smidt,Joe (1-1) S: Russ, Gibson (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Smith Sparks UCO Past Lopers

KEARNEY, Neb. (May 7) – Trae Smith's two-run single capped a four-run ninth-inning rally that lifted Central Oklahoma past Nebraska-Kearney 9-7 here Saturday afternoon as the Bronchos completed a sweep of the three-game Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association series.
 
The Lopers had a golden opportunity of pulling out a comeback of their own in the bottom of the ninth after loading the bases with no outs, but reliever Gibson Russ squashed those hopes with a pop-out and back-to-back strikeouts.
 
UCO ended the regular season 29-20 overall and 21-17 in the league.  The Bronchos travel to St. Charles, Mo. for the MIAA Post-season Tournament that starts Thursday as the No. 7 seed and will meet second-seeded Emporia State at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in one of four first-round games at Lindenwood's Lou Brock Sports Complex.
 
"Our guys showed a lot of fight again today," head coach John Martin said.  "We battled from behind all day and came out with a great win to get a big sweep on the road.  We've got some momentum and are looking forward to the conference tournament."
 
The Bronchos trailed 7-3 after seven innings, but scored twice in the eighth and then went ahead for the first time with their four-run volley in the ninth.
 
Jake Dyer started the ninth-inning rally with a one-out single and was safe at second on an error that allowed Jacob Borrego to reach base.  Landon Eason plated the first run with a single to left field and then Jon Kamies' single to left tied it, with Eason and Kamies both advancing a base on the throw home.
 
Smith followed with the game-winner, lining a sharp single to right field to drive home Eason and Kames with the go-ahead runs.
 
A lead-off single and consecutive walks gave the Lopers hope in the bottom of the ninth before Russ closed the door.
 
Dyer and Eason had three hits apiece to lead a 12-hit attack, while Smith finished with two hits and four RBI.


UCO trailed 2-0 before pulling even in the sixth.
 
Eason started that inning with a walk, Isaac Hellbusch drew a one-out walk and both advanced on a wild pitch before Smith's RBI goundout and an error tied it at 2-all.
 
UNK came back with two runs in the bottom of that frame and then answered Dyer's two-out solo home run in the seventh with three more to go up 7-3.
 
Eason started another rally in the eighth with a lead-off double, went to third on Kamies' single and scored on Hellbusch's sacrifice fly.  Kamies eventually scored on Smith's second RBI groundout of game to make it 7-5 and set the stage for the ninth-inning comeback.
 
 
 
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