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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

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Bailey Thompson
Bailey Thompson
1
Winona State WSU 15-4
5
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 25-2
Winona State WSU
15-4
1
Final
5
Central Oklahoma UCO
25-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Winona State WSU 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 0
Central Oklahoma UCO 2 0 0 2 1 0 X 5 8 1

W: McKittrick, Bailey (12-0) L: Kleman, J. (7-1) S: McLeod, Sydney (1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Thompson, Heath Spark Bronchos Past Winona

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (March 23) – Bailey Thompson came up big at the plate and in the field while JoBi Heath continued her climb up the Central Oklahoma record book in leading the No. 4-ranked Bronchos past No. 22 Winona State 5-1 Saturday morning in the Hy-Vee Classic.

Thompson had a key two-run single in the fourth inning, but it was her defensive prowess that proved to be the biggest difference in the game.  The speedy senior ran down four fly balls from her center field spot, three in the gap and the final one a diving grab of a sinking blooper for the final out in the sixth with the bases loaded.

Heath bashed a two-run home run in the first inning to stake UCO to an early lead, moving the senior slugger into second on the career runs batted in chart (188) and into a tie for third on the school's all-time homer list (34).

"That was a big win for us," head coach Cody White said.  "We had a tough loss yesterday (4-0 to No. 17 Augustana) and it was important to bounce back.  Our girls came out today ready to get back on track."

UCO improved to 25-2 and will end the two-day, three-game event at 1:30 p.m. against Northern State.

The Bronchos jumped out to the early lead on Heath's homer.  Hazel Puempel led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field and Heath drove a two-out pitch to center field that bounced off the top of the fence for her sixth homer of the season.

Winona got a run back in the second on three hits and a walk and it stayed 2-1 until the fourth.

Allie Eicher got Central started in that inning with a one-out single to left field, Casady Webb followed with a single to center and Puempel drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Thompson, who came through with a bloop single to left-center field that scored two runs.

The Bronchos pushed their advantage to 5-1 in the fifth.  Heath led off with a single to left and pinch-runner McKenzie Carney went to second when Lexy Dobson was hit by pitch before Eicher delivered a one-out RBI single up the middle.

The Warriors loaded the bases in both the sixth and seventh, but UCO kept them from scoring.  Thompson's acrobatic catch got the Bronchos out of trouble in the sixth and Sydney McLeod ended the drama in the seventh with a strikeout.

Bailey McKittrick started and pitched the first 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win, improving to 12-0.  McLeod went the final 1 1/3 innings to earn her first save.

UCO finished with eight hits, getting two each from Heath and Eicher.




 
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