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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

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JoBi Heath
JoBi Heath
1
Southwest Baptist SBU 5-35, 2-11 MIAA
6
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 34-3, 16-1 MIAA
Southwest Baptist SBU
5-35, 2-11 MIAA
1
Final
6
Central Oklahoma UCO
34-3, 16-1 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southwest Baptist SBU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 0
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 1 0 5 0 X 6 6 0

W: McKittrick, Bailey (18-1) L: Massanelli,Maddie (1-15)

Game Recap: Softball |

Heath Slam Sparks Bronchos

EDMOND (April 12) – JoBi Heath blasted a fifth-inning grand slam to finally give Central Oklahoma some breathing room and the No. 2-ranked Bronchos downed pesky Southwest Baptist 6-1 in the first game of a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheader Friday afternoon.

UCO struggled to get its offense going against the Bearcats and finished with just six hits – two each by Hazel Puempel and Brighton Gilbert.  SBU had eight hits.

The Bronchos improved to 34-3 overall and 16-1 in league play while staying perfect (17-0) at home heading into the nightcap.

Central was clinging to a 1-0 lead before finally taking control with a five-run fifth.

Gilbert got things started with a one-out single to right field and went to second on a wild pitch before Puempel ripped an RBI double down the left field line.  Bailey Thompson's bloop hit to center field fell in for a double that put Puempel on third and then Halley Randolph walked to load the bases.

The count went to 2-2 on Heath before the senior slugger sent a line drive soaring over the fence in right-center field.  She moved into third place on UCO's all-time home run list with 35 and now has 200 career RBI, which is second-best in school history.

The Bronchos got their first hit of the game in the third inning when Gilbert led off with an infield single.  The speedy sophomore promptly stole second base and then scored on Puempel's single through the right side to give UCO a 1-0 lead.

That's the way it stayed until the fifth and the Bearcats scored their lone run in the seventh, ending a string of 20 scoreless innings by UCO's pitching staff.

Freshman Bailey McKittrick went the distance in the circle to pick up the win, improving to 18-1.  She scattered eight hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out four.

Puempel had two fine defensive plays in right field in addition to having two hits and two RBI, making sliding catches in both the fifth and seventh innings when the Bearcats had runners on base.
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