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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Trae Smith
1
Emporia State ESU 34-24
4
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 37-20
Emporia State ESU
34-24
1
Final
4
Central Oklahoma UCO
37-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Emporia State ESU 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 9 1

W: Obeso, Junior (3-3) L: Thompson,T. (5-3) S: Rutland, Josh (11)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Chris Brannick

Smith's Slam Leads Bronchos

MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team beat Emporia State 4-1 Saturday afternoon in an NCAA Tournament Central Regional elimination game to extend the Broncho season for at least one more day. Central (37-20) ended Emporia's season for the second year in a row.

"The guys played hard and they fought," UCO head baseball coach John Martin said. "When you lose the first game of a tournament it's just about playing hard and not wanting to go home. We did a good job. We had a big swing by Trae Smith and our bullpen did a great job of attacking the zone and letting our guys play defense."

Smith was the difference Saturday.

In the third inning, Xavier Warren led off with a single and Justin Brown reached base on an error by the third baseman on the next play. Xavier Freeman then hit a one-out single to right to load the bases for Smith.

After a mound visit by the Emporia pitching coach, the senior from Sedan, Kan. smashed the first pitch he saw and hit a grand slam over the right field fence to make it 4-0 UCO. Smith's slam was the first Broncho homer in the NCAA Tournament this year.

"Today I got fortunate," Smith said. "I stayed on the ball and got my pitch and drove it out."

The Bronchos got the bats going early and often. Brown led the bottom of the first inning off with a triple to left center field. In the second, Paul Kropf and T.J. Sparr both hit singles up the middle. But the Bronchos did leave both Brown and Sparr on base and Kropf was thrown out at second. 

Emporia responded to Smith's grand slam with a run in the top of the fourth. After the leadoff batter reached on an error, he moved to second on a wild pitch, and third on a bunt single. He would score on a sacrifice-fly to make it 4-1. But the Broncho pitching staff stayed the course.

J.D. Cameron got the start for UCO Saturday was solid in 3 2/3 innings of work. He allowed just two hits, one run (unearned) and struck out two batters. Junior Obeso came on in relief in the fourth inning and got Emporia to hit into a routine ground out to end the inning and keep the Bronchos ahead 4-1.

Obeso would go on to strike out six in a dominating performance on the mound. He struck out four of those six batters looking at a called third strike. Obeso got the win on the day for the effort. He improved to 3-3 on the season after allowing no hits through 3 1/3 innings.

Austin Lambright came on for Obeso to start the top of the eighth inning and for the second time in as many days, the senior lefy was brilliant. He struck out the first two batters, both looking, before issuing a walk. He then easily struck out the next batter, also looking, and kept the Bronchos ahead.

Josh Rutland came on to close it out in the ninth. He got a 1-2-3 inning for his 11th save of the season, moving the junior into sole possession of second place on Central's all-time single season saves mark. 

UCO's bats cooled off after Smith's slam. The Bronchos had three hits in the final five innings. But the one swing of the bat by the Broncho slugger was more than enough. Smith said after the game he'd seen a lot of first-pitch strikes in the tournament and he jumped on the one Emporia State threw him in the bottom of the third inning, sending the Bronchos on for another day.

UCO will play Southern Arkansas Saturday at noon in another elimination game. If the Bronchos win, they'll turn around and play Central Missouri at 3:30 p.m. in the consolation final. Augustana beat UCM Saturday night and awaits the winner in the regional final, scheduled for Monday at noon.

 
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