Gibson Leads UCO Past Dustdevils

CONROE, Texas (Feb. 1) -- Lauren Gibson threw a five-hit shutout and Carli Jones staked Central Oklahoma to an early lead as the Bronchos topped Texas A&M International 4-0 to complete first-day play in the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational Friday afternoon.

UCO opened the day with a 13-3 romp over Texas Woman's before blanking the Dustdevils to finish off a perfect first day of the season. The Bronchos return Saturday to take on West Texas A&M at 3:30 p.m. and No. 20 Arkansas Tech at 6 p.m. before finishing against No. 9 Texas A&M-Commerce Sunday at 9 a.m.

"It was a good start for us," head coach Cody White said. "We didn't swing the bats as well in the second game as the first, but we took advantage of the hits we did get and Gibby (Gibson) really threw well. The girls were excited to get started and we're looking forward to seeing what we can do the rest of the weekend."

Gibson scattered five hits in going the full seven innings and allowed only one runner to reach second base. The sophomore right-hander struck out four and walked just one in picking up the second shutout of her career.

Central jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Halley Randolph reached on an error, JoBi Heath followed with a single up the middle and both runners advanced on an error before Jones came through with a two-run single to right field.

Casady Webb opened the second with a double to left-center, went to third on an error and scored on Hazel Puempel's groundout to make it 3-0. The Bronchos completed the scoring in the fifth when Bailey Thompson reached on a two-out bunt single and stole second before racing home on Randolph's double down the left field line.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Lauren Gibson: P/OF; 5' 7"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R

#13 JoBi Heath: IF/OF; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#15 Carli Jones: 1B; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

#17 Halley Randolph: C; 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R

#7 Casady Webb: UT; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

#22 Bailey Thompson: OF; 5' 4"; Junior; L/R

#28 Hazel Puempel: UT; 5' 9"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#25 Lauren Gibson
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R
: P/OF

#13 JoBi Heath
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: IF/OF

#15 Carli Jones
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: 1B

#17 Halley Randolph
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R
: C

#7 Casady Webb
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: UT

#22 Bailey Thompson
: 5' 4"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#28 Hazel Puempel
: 5' 9"; Junior; L/R
: UT