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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Taylor Avila
8
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 12-6
3
Central Missouri UCM 13-7
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
12-6
8
Final
3
Central Missouri UCM
13-7
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 8 6 0
Central Missouri UCM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 10 1

W: Littlejim, Gabe (3-2) L: Gavin,Brady (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Topple UCM To Take Series

WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team beat Central Missouri 8-3 Sunday afternoon in the final game of a three-game MIAA series at Crane Stadium.

The Bronchos took the season series 2-1 with the win. Central Oklahoma is now 12-6 on the season and 5-4 in MIAA play.

"I'm really proud of the team for coming out focused and set on getting a win today," UCO head coach John Martin said. "We responded well to a loss on Friday by getting a tough win yesterday, and today was pretty important to us. I'm glad we came out playing the way we did and it's good to get a win."

UCO jumped all over UCM right out of the gates. The Bronchos put four runs on the board in the top of the first inning, setting the stage for a dominant day on the mound from starter Gabe Littlejim.

Philip Scott led the game off with a double down the left field line, Kyle Crowl was hit by a pitch, and then Paul Kropf drew a walk to load the bases. Kace Massner then lined out to right field, but it was deep enough a shot to score Scott and put the Bronchos on the board. 

Brock Ruminer then swung at the first pitch he saw and smacked a one-out triple to right center, clearing the bases and giving the Bronchos a 4-0 lead over the Mules.

In the fifth inning, UCO struck again, though the Bronchos didn't need to swing the bat to get it going. UCM reliever Tyler Hasper walked Scott to leadoff the inning, then Crowl, then Kropf, then Massner. That last scoring Scott. 

Ruminer finally got the first hit of the inning for the Bronchos, singling to third base to score Crowl. Avila then singled to center to score Kropf, and TK McWhertor reached on a fielder's choice to score Kropf and give UCO an 8-0 lead.

Littlejim threw 5 2/3 innings Sunday. He improved to 3-2 on the season with the win. The senior from Norman, Okla. struck out three, allowing seven hits and two walks in a scoreless outing.

Brayden Nelson came on in relief of Littlejim in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded. He struck out the first batter he saw to get out of the jam. Nelson would throw 2 1/3 innings, getting two more strikeouts along the way. He allowed just one hit. 

Josh Rutland threw the ninth inning. He gave up a three-run home run, UCM's only runs on the day, with two outs in the ninth, before getting the final out and securing the win.

UCO only recorded six hits on the day. Avila went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Ruminer went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. He also scored a run. And Scott went 1-for-4 with two runs scored. The Bronchos drew as many walks on the day. Kropf drew two, while Scott, Crowl, Massner, and TJ Black also drew one each.

Central Oklahoma returns to Edmond taking 2 of 3 from the conference foe. UCO will play a non-conference midweek matchup at Southwestern Oklahoma on Wednesday before returning to Wendell Simmons Field for MIAA play next weekend against Emporia State.
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