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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Taylor Avila
3
Washburn WU 22-21, 13-17 MIAA
10
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 30-16, 19-11 MIAA
Washburn WU
22-21, 13-17 MIAA
3
Final
10
Central Oklahoma UCO
30-16, 19-11 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Washburn WU 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 10 1
Central Oklahoma UCO 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 4 X 10 13 0

W: Nelson, Brayden (5-0) L: Gilliam,Brock (4-7)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Beats Washburn

EDMOND - Taylor Avila celebrated senior day Sunday by blasting a pair of home runs - one of which went across University Drive about 450 feet north of home plate - and the University of Central Oklahoma baseball team beat Washburn 10-3 in the final home game of the 2019 season for the Bronchos.

Avila's two-run home run in the bottom of the third capped off a four-run rally. His solo shot down the left field line in the bottom of the eighth started another four-run rally. The senior from Altus, Okla., who with seven of his classmates was honored before the game, finished 2-for-3 with two homers and three runs scored.

Avila also scored after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth. That resulted in the ejection of the Washburn pitcher for his malicious intent. Avila stole second after a bit of comotion on the field finally settled down. After finding his way to third, he darted across home plate on a wild pitch.

"I'm proud of the team for the way they fought today," UCO head baseball coach John Martin said. "We had a lot of energy and we worked as hard as we could for everything we got today. That's the way you have to play every day. I'm glad for Taylor too. He's going to have this day for the rest of his life. What a cool moment for him."

UCO clinched the season series with Washburn 2-1 with Sunday's win. The Bronchos also maintained their third-place position in the MIAA. Central is 30-16 overall and 19-11 in league play. UCO also hit the 30-win mark for the fourth consecutive season.

Washburn went up 2-0 in the top of the first inning Sunday, working three consecutive two-out hits off Central starter Brayden Nelson.

Nelson settled in though. He allowed six hits in five innings of work and didn't allow another run after the two in the opening frame. Nelson also struck out three on the day. The Piedmont, Okla. native picked up the win and is now 5-0 on the season.

UCO got one back in the bottom of the first. TJ Black led off with a single to center field. He then moved over to third from first when Washburn's pickoff attempted got past the first basemen and into right field. Black would score on a wild pitch to make it 2-1. 

In the top of the third, Nelson allowed a leadoff double, then hit the next batter to put two on with nobody out. But in the next at bat, Washburn's Javis Larson swung on a 1-1 pitch and hit a shot that looked like it would make it through the left side. However, UCO shortstop Ryan Harrel darted to his right and snagged the ball out of the air. WU called a hit and run on the play and the runners were frozen at Harrel's play. He threw to second, where Black stood. Black threw to first and the Bronchos converted the triple play.

UCO responded at the plate.

Brock Ruminer led off the bottom of the third with a double down to left field. After Philip Scott popped up, Joe Mondragon traded places with Ruminer on a double to left. That tied the game. Then TK McWhertor traded places with Mondragon, knocking the third double to left field in four at bats for UCO. 

Avila followed McWhertor and swung on the first pitch he saw, drilling a ball high and far to left center to give UCO a 5-2 lead.

UCO added to the lead in the sixth when Avila scored again to make it 6-2. He made it 7-3 with his homer in the eighth.

After the next two batters got out, Harrel tripled to center field. He scored on the next play when Black singled through the right side to make it 8-3. After Ruminer singled to move Black over to third, and stole second base, Scott knocked a two-RBI single through the right side to make it 10-3.

Black, Ruminer, and Mondragon all went 2-for-5 on the day to join Avila with multi-hit games. Every Broncho that stood at the plate Sunday got a hit. Avila's three runs led the team, while Black and Ruminer scored twice. Avila's three RBIs also led the way, while Scott added two.

Landon Bond, Junior Obeso and Josh Rutland, three more seniors who'd been honored pregame, came out of the bullpen to assist in the win for the Bronchos. Bond allowed two hits and a run in 1 2/3 innings and struck out three. Obeso allowed one hit in 1 1/3 and struck out two. Rutland allowed one hit in the one inning he threw, closing the door on another Broncho victory in the ninth.

Central Oklahoma will hit the road for the remainder of the 2019 regular season. The Bronchos visit Southwestern Oklahoma State on Tuesday for a non-conference matchup before visiting Southwest Baptist next weekend for a three-game MIAA series to close out the regular season. The 2019 MIAA Tournament, which UCO qualified for with a win last Friday, is scheduled to begin in two weeks in Pittsburg, Kan.
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