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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Hazel Puempel
Hazel Puempel
9
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 31-3, 13-1 MIAA
5
Northeastern State NSU 20-17, 8-6 MIAA
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
31-3, 13-1 MIAA
9
Final
5
Northeastern State NSU
20-17, 8-6 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 1 0 2 0 2 3 1 9 11 1
Northeastern State NSU 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 5 8 1

W: McLeod, Sydney (13-2) L: Sydney Balderrama (7-8)

Game Recap: Softball |

Puempel Powers Bronchos Past NSU

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (April 7) – Hazel Puempel homered in her first two at bats and drove in four runs to propel Central Oklahoma to a 9-5 second-game triumph over Northeastern State as the No. 2-ranked Bronchos finished off a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheader sweep Sunday afternoon.

UCO, which rolled to an 8-0 run-rule rout in the opener behind Bailey McKittrick's no-hitter, improved to 31-3 on the season and 13-1 in league play.  The RiverHawks fell to 20-17 and 8-6.

"We picked up two really good road wins today," head coach Cody White said.  "Bailey just dominated in the first game and offensively we did a lot of positive things."

The Bronchos had 11 hits in the nightcap after collecting 12 in the opener.  Puempel went 2-for-2 with her two homers and also scored three runs, while Lexy Dobson had a 3-for-4 outing and Carli Jones a solo homer in a two-hit outing.

Sydney McLeod picked up the pitching win, giving up three runs in going the first five innings to improve to 13-2.  Lauren Gibson threw the final two innings.

Puempel has kick-started UCO's offense all season from her lead-off spot and the junior outfielder did it again in the first inning, planting the second pitch she saw over the fence in left-center field to give the Bronchos a quick 1-0 lead.

The RiverHawks answered back with a single score in the second to tie it, but UCO went back on top in the third and Puempel was the catalyst once again.

This time Brighton Gilbert led off the inning with a bunt single and Puempel followed with a drive over the center field wall for a two-run shot and her fourth homer of the season.

NSU got a run back in the bottom of the third to make it 3-2 and it stayed that way until the fifth.

Gilbert got the Bronchos going with a one-out walk and then stole second before Puempel walked, with Halley Randolph delivering a clutch two-out, two-run double to center field to push the lead to 5-2.

The RiverHawks hit a solo homer in the bottom of the frame to close within 5-3, but UCO answered that with three runs in the sixth to gain some breathing room.

Jones got the scoring going with her solo homer, driving a one-out shot to right-center fielder.  Dobson, Casady Webb and Haley Pomplun then had consecutive singles to load the bases, with a walk to Gilbert forcing in one run before Puempel's sacrifice fly made it 8-3.

It became a 9-3 cushion in the seventh when Jones had a two-out double to right field and pinch-runner McKenzie Carney scored on an error following Dobson's single.

NSU hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Central returns home Friday to host conference rival Southwest Baptist for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.



 
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