Central Storms Emporia In Game 2 Victory

EMPORIA, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team beat Emporia State 11-5 Thursday night in Game 2 of the three-game MIAA series.

Central Oklahoma, which lost to Emporia 5-1 earlier in the day, is 5-4 after the win and has a 3-2 record in league play.

"Game 2 was much better for us," UCO head coach John Martin said. "We were more aggressive and went after it. We got a good lead early but we also kept fighting and found a way to keep it going throughout the game. Now we just need to focus and try to do the same thing tomorrow."

UCO got an immediate boost in Game 2 Thursday. Colton Bertus led off the game with a walk before Joe Mondragon laid down a bunt single. Kyle Crowl then singled to right field to load the bases with still no outs on the scoreboard.

Garrett Takamatsu then knocked a single of his own to the ESU shortstop, who couldn't handle the high-bouncing ground ball, and Bertus scored to give UCO a 1-0 lead. Philip Scott then drew a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0 before Brett Hopkins reached on an error by the ESU third baseman. Takamatsu and Crowl scored on that play and UCO had a 4-0 lead.

Still in the top of the first, Bennett Laurence reached on an error by the ESU third baseman and again it plated two runs as Hopkins and Scott both scored.

UCO would get one run again in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings each to build on its lead. Hopkins scored Scott with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 7-2, Ryan Harrel scored Hopkins in the seventh with a single to right field and that made it 8-4, and Takamatsu scored Mondragon with a single down the right field line to give Central a 9-4 lead.

In the ninth, the insurance came.

Hopkins reached on an error by the shortstop before Brendan Ezell doubled down the right field line. Harrel then singled to right to score Hopkins and make it 10-5. Ezell scored on a wild pitch after that to make it 11-5.

Mondragon and Harrel led the Bronchos in Game 2. Mondragon, a second-year senior first baseman, went 3-for-6 with a triple and two runs scored. Harrel, a second-year senior outfielder, went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Takamatsu also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored. Ezell also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. And Laurence also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5.

Bertus, Crowl and Scott all had one hit as well for UCO in the game.

Kyle Patterson got the start for the Bronchos and was effective through four innings of work. He allowed three runs on five hits with a walk, but also had three strikeouts. Colton Croft threw one inning of relief work and allowed one run and got one strikeout. Jacob Bailey thre three innings and struck out three.

Beaux Bonvillain pitched the ninth. He struck out the first batter he faced before hitting the next on an 0-2 pitch. He followed that with strikeout No. 2 and got a pop-up to first to end the game and give Central the victory.

The schools will wrap up the three-game MIAA series Friday. Game 3 is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Colton Bertus: 2B/3B; 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R

#23 Colton Croft: P; 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R

#12 Kyle Crowl: IF; 6' 2"; Senior; R/R

#22 Brendan Ezell: C; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#2 Ryan Harrel: SS; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#17 Joe Mondragon: 1B; 6' 1"; Senior; L/R

#27 Philip Scott: 2B/3B; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#33 Garrett Takamatsu: C; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

#35 Jacob Bailey: P; 6' 0"; Sophomore; */R

#11 Beaux Bonvillain: P; 6' 0"; Junior; */L

Players Mentioned

#1 Colton Bertus
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R
: 2B/3B

#23 Colton Croft
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#12 Kyle Crowl
: 6' 2"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#22 Brendan Ezell
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: C

#2 Ryan Harrel
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: SS

#17 Joe Mondragon
: 6' 1"; Senior; L/R
: 1B

#27 Philip Scott
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: 2B/3B

#33 Garrett Takamatsu
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: C

#35 Jacob Bailey
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; */R
: P

#11 Beaux Bonvillain
: 6' 0"; Junior; */L
: P