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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Dayne Sommer
Dayne Sommer
7
Winner Missouri Western MWSU 32-19
6
Central Oklahoma UCO 31-18-1
Winner
Missouri Western MWSU
32-19
7
Final
6
Central Oklahoma UCO
31-18-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Missouri Western MWSU 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 7 10 4
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 2 0 6 7 1

W: Agnew,Dustin (7-2) L: Culver, Tyler (4-2) S: Peoples,Richard (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Chris Brannick

Central comeback falls short, UCO still alive in MIAA Tournament

JOPLIN, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team Saturday narrowly missed a big comeback that would have sent the Bronchos to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship, and instead will play in a winner-take-all elimination game on Sunday.

Missouri Western beat UCO 7-6 Saturday afternoon at Warren Turner Field in Joplin, handing the Bronchos their first loss of the postseason tournament and forcing the "if necessary" matchup on Sunday.

"That was a tough one," UCO head coach John Martin said. "We put ourselves in a bad spot but we didn't give up. I know we could have won today if we just would have limited our mistakes early."

Missouri Western jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and led 4-1 in the fourth. UCO later trailed 6-2 in the seventh before beginning a furious comeback attempt.

The Bronchos scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and twice more in the bottom of the eighth after Missouri Western added its final run. Heading to the ninth, it was 7-6.

UCO got a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top half of the inning. Jon Kamies led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, and then moved into scoring position when Anthony Alvarez laid down a sacrifice bunt.

But Kamies would get caught on the bases for the second out of the inning when Trae Smith put the ball in play. Xavier Warren pinch-ran for Smith but Kyle Miskovsky hit a ground ball to the shortstop, who got the quick and final out of the game at second base.

UCO scattered seven hits Saturday, with Dayne Sommer and Justin Brown leading the way with two each. Jake Dyer, Kamies, and Smith each had one hit.

Tyler Culver got the start for the Bronchos and allowed four runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Greg Hyde had a solid three innings of relief work, but also allowed two runs. Ben Wusterbarth allowed the final run in his 2 1/3 innings of work. Brock Stuber finished off the top of the ninth with two quick outs.

The Bronchos won 1-of-3 against Missouri Western in the regular season. UCO will need to win just one more against the Griffons to reach the MIAA Championship for the first time since joining the league in 2013.

Sunday's game is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Joplin. If the other side of the bracket has to play the same "if necessary" game Sunday, it will be played at 12:30 and the Championship at 4 p.m. If that game does need to be played, the Championship will be played at 12:30.

Emporia State is playing Missouri Southern Saturday. The winner plays Lindenwood immediately following their game. If Lindenwood wins the night cap Saturday, it'll advance straight to the Championship. If Lindenwood loses Saturday night, that will force a third game to be played Sunday.
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