Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Kace Massner
4
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 20-12, 12-8 MIAA
3
Lindenwood LWU 18-16, 12-8 MIAA
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
20-12, 12-8 MIAA
4
Final
3
Lindenwood LWU
18-16, 12-8 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 4 7 0
Lindenwood LWU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 5 1

W: Nelson, Brayden (3-0) L: Roach,Brody (3-1) S: Rutland, Josh (9)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Chris Brannick

Central Evens Series With Lindenwood

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team beat Lindenwood 4-3 Saturday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader between the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association foes at Lou Brock Sports Complex.

Central Oklahoma is 20-12 following the win and 12-8 in league play. The teams are set to play Game 3 of the MIAA series later Saturday.

Brayden Nelson got the win for UCO in his second start of the season. The junior righty moved into the rotation last week and is now 3-0. He threw seven innings Saturday, striking out two along the way and only allowed three hits and two walks. 

Landon Bond came in for Nelson and threw the eighth inning, striking out one batter. Lindenwood got two on with nobody out off of Nelson to start the inning, and Bond came in to get UCO out of the jam. The Lions scored one during the inning.

Josh Rutland came on to pitch the ninth, and allowed back-to-back hits to leadoff the inning. He gave up an RBI groundout and allowed a Lindenwood runner to score on a wild pitch. However, he still closed the door on his 20th career save. Already the school record holder for most saves in his career, Rutland has nine this season, which is the most in NCAA Division II.

Central Oklahoma got on the board in the top of the fifth following leadoff singles by Kace Massner and TJ Black. Philip Scott laid down a sacrifice bunt after that to move both runners up one base. Then, Brock Schaffer reached on an error by the LU first baseman and both Massner and Black scored on the play. That gave UCO a 2-0 lead in the game.

Kyle Crowl made it 3-0 with one swing of the bat in the sixth inning. Lindenwood changed pitchers before the inning and after looking at the first three come through, Crowl took a hack at the next one and drilled his team-leading seventh home run of the season down the left field line.

UCO got one more run in the ninth with a similar approach as the fifth inning. Joe Mondragon led off with a single and Taylor Avila drew a walk to follow. Ryan Harrel then pinch-hit for Massner, and laid down the sacrifice bunt to move Brock Ruminer - who pinch-ran for Mondragon - and Avila up one base. Following another LU pitching change, Ruminer scored when Black put a ball in play and the Lion defense couldn't get the throw home in time.

That made it 4-1, Central Oklahoma. 

Massner and Black both went 2-for-3 Saturday to lead the Bronchos. Crowl, Paul Kropf, and Mondragon also had one hit each for UCO.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors