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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Josh Rutland
11
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 11-6, 4-4 MIAA
10
Central Missouri UCM 13-6, 6-2 MIAA
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
11-6, 4-4 MIAA
11
Final
10
Central Missouri UCM
13-6, 6-2 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 4 3 11 14 1
Central Missouri UCM 0 0 2 1 0 3 2 2 0 10 10 2

W: Obeso, Junior (2-1) L: Sprinkle,Jonathan (1-1) S: Rutland, Josh (4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Chris Brannick

Late Rally Lifts Bronchos Over UCM

WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team beat Central Missouri 11-10 in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association game at Crane Stadium.

The Bronchos are now 11-6 on the season overall and 4-4 in league play. The series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.

"We really had to fight for this one and I'm really proud of the team for not giving up today," UCO head baseball coach John Martin said. "Every time we got something going, Central Missouri responded, and credit to them. But our guys just kept fighting we were able to get the win. Now we have a big game on Sunday to try to clinch the series and we need to come out focused and ready to play the way we did today."

Central Oklahoma scored at least one run in six innings Saturday. The Bronchos scored once in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. But Central Missouri responded in almost each instance. 

UCO struck first Saturday, going up 1-0 in the top of the third inning. Paul Kropf scored Philip Scott with a single to give UCO the early lead. Central Missouri scored twice to go up 2-1 in the bottom of the third.

The Bronchos then tied it 2-2 in the fourth, when Ryan Harrel's single scored Taylor Avila, and again, UCM took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning. 

UCO tied the game again in the fifth, 3-3, on Kyle Crowl's RBI double that scored Scott. The Bronchos held strong in the bottom of the fifth, and UCO took the lead once again, 4-3, in the sixth inning. when Brock Ruminer reached on an error and Avila scored on the play. But again, Central Missouri responded, going up 6-4 in the bottom half of the inning.  

UCM then went up 8-4 in the seventh in what easily could have been the final blow. But now it was Central Oklahoma's time to respond.

In the top of the eighth, TJ Black led off with a hit by pitch before Kace Massner drilled a pinch-hit homer to center field to make it 8-6. Ruminer followed that with a single, and then Paul Kropf smashed a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left field that tied the game 8-8.

In the bottom of the eighth, just as it had gone all day, UCM responded. The Mules hit a two-run home run of the inning to go back ahead 10-8.

For as much as Central Missouri responded to each Central Oklahoma blow, the Bronchos did the same.

In the top of the ninth, Avila drew a leadoff walk and Black followed that with a single. Then Massner singled himself, to move the runners up, and Avila would score on the play to make it 10-9. Black would soon advance to third on a wild pitch, and Massner stole second later to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. 

Scott then came through for the Bronchos. The junior infielder smacked a 1-0 pitch to left field that scored Black to tie the game and Massner to give UCO an 11-10 lead.

There would be no response from Central Missouri after that. Josh Rutland came on to pitch in the ninth and retired the side in order, giving UCO the win.

Central Oklahoma belted 13 hits Saturday, with 10 Bronchos each recording one. Four UCO batters had two hits.

Kropf went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored. Scott went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Brice West went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. And Massner, who wasn't in the lineup until the eighth inning, went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Avila scored thrice on Saturday, going 1-for-2 at the plate with a pair of walks.

UCO used six pitchers on the afternoon. Spencer Van Scoyoc got the start and threw 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on two hits and walked five. He also struck out two.

Colton Croft threw 1 1/3, allowing two runs on one hit. Landon Bond also threw 1 1/3 and allowed two runs - one earned - on two hits. Ty Medina allowed one run in 2/3 of an inning. Junior Obeso, who gets the win after throwing the eighth, allowed two runs on three hits. Rutland came in to get the save in one winning of work.

Central Oklahoma and Central Missouri will wrap up the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. The Bronchos will make a short road trip to Weatherford, Okla. to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State on Wednesday before hosting Emporia State next weekend in Edmond.
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