No. 2 UCO Clips Lopers In Doubleheader Opener

KEARNEY, Neb. (April 1) – Casady Webb went 3-for-3 at the plate and No. 2-ranked Central Oklahoma built a comfortable lead before holding off Nebraska-Kearney 7-4 in the first game of a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheader Monday afternoon.

The Bronchos scored five runs in the second and two in the third to go on top 7-1 before UNK pushed across three runs in its final two at bats. UCO improved to 27-2 overall and 9-0 in the league despite being outhit 12-10.

Webb's three-hit performance led the Bronchos, while Carli Jones added a pair of hits. Bailey McKittrick went the distance in the pitching circle and remained unbeaten, improving to 14-0.

The Lopers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Central answered that with a five-run volley that was aided by three UNK errors.

Jones led off the frame with a double down the left field line, Lexy Dobson was hit by pitch and Webb drew a walk to load the bases before Jones scored the first run on an error. Another miscue allowed Brighton Gilbert to reach base and scored Dobson before Hazel Puempel drove a two-run double to left field.

The inning continued with another error that put Halley Randolph on and JoBi Heath finished the scoring with a sacrifice fly that gave the Bronchos a 5-1 lead.

It stayed that way until the fifth, when UCO scored its final two runs.

Dobson started that inning with a double to center field, then Webb drove her home with a single to left-center. Gilbert reached on an error and Puempel walked to load the bases for Bailey Thompson, who came through with an RBI single that made it 7-1.

UNK got back in the game with two runs in the sixth and added another in the seventh, but it wasn't enough.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Lexy Dobson: OF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

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

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

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

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

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

#27 Bailey McKittrick: P; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

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

#5 Brighton Gilbert: UT; 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/R

Players Mentioned

#8 Lexy Dobson
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

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

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

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

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

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

#27 Bailey McKittrick
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: P

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

#5 Brighton Gilbert
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/R
: UT