Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Junior Obeso
5
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 17-10
3
Missouri Western MWSU 12-12
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
17-10
5
Final
3
Missouri Western MWSU
12-12
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 5 3 1
Missouri Western MWSU 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 2

W: Obeso, Junior (3-1) L: Dwyre,Carson (0-2) S: Rutland, Josh (8)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Rally For Series Opening Win

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Brock Ruminer's two-RBI triple in the top of the ninth lifted the University of Central Oklahoma to a 5-3 win over Missouri Western in the first of a three-game Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association series.

Central Oklahoma is 17-10 following the win, and 10-6 in the MIAA. The two schools entered the weekend tied for fourth in league play. Missouri Western, 12-11 overall, is now 9-7.

"We just kept battling," UCO head baseball coach John Martin said. "We didn't have much of anything going at the plate for most of the game, but we just kept battling. Fortunately, our pitching staff kept us close and we got it done. That's a good start to the series and now we need to come out tomorrow and keep it going."

Kace Massner led of the top of the ninth in a 3-3 game reaching on an error by the Missouri Western third baseman. TK McWhertor then sacrificed to get Massner up to second, and Brice West was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to put two on. Ruminer looked at two balls before fouling off the third pitch. He smacked the fourth pitch into right center to score Massner and West and give UCO the lead and the win.

Josh Rutland came on in the bottom of the ninth and did was he does best, getting a 1-2-3 inning for the save, closing the door on another win. Rutland struck out one in the inning to get his eighth save of the season. His 19 career saves is a school record.

Dylan Hall got the start for the Bronchos and worked his way through a choppy to start to turn in another quality start.

Missouri Western scored two in the bottom of the first, one homer and one unearned run, both with two outs, to take a 2-0 lead. It led 3-0 after three innings thanks to another two-out rally.

But Hall responded well, striking out seven over the next three innings and eight total in what would be a no decision.

Colton Croft threw one inning of relief work, allowing no hits and striking out one in the seventh. Junior Obeso would strike out two in the eighth inning before turning it over to Rutland.

Obeso got the win. He came on in the eighth after the Bronchos tied the game and turned it over to Rutland with the lead. Obeso is now 3-1 on the season.

Central's offense scattered only five hits Saturday, and scored four of its five runs on two of them. 

West led off the eighth getting hit by a pitch. After Ruminer struck out, Brock Schaffer and TJ Black drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. A passed ball allowed West to score and make it 3-1, MWSU. 

Kyle Crowl was at the plate for that passed ball, and after drawing a 3-2 count, the senior infielder pelted a two-RBI double to left center to score both Schaffer and Black and tie the game, 3-3. 

Schaffer had a single earlier in the game to go with Crowl's double, and Ruminer's game-winning triple as the only hits on the day for the Bronchos.

The Broncho pitching staff matched - and bettered - the effort from Missouri Western's staff. UCO struck out 12 Saturday and only allowed four hits. Central's bullpen didn't allow a hit in three innings.

The teams will be back on the field in less than 24 hours. Game 2 in the MIAA series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Game 3 will be Monday at noon. 
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors