Baseball 3/26/2021 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Pittsburg State

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team is hosting Pittsburg State this weekend for a three-game MIAA series at Wendell Simmons Field.

The schools will play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday with Game 2 following 30 minutes after Game 1 is over. Sunday's Game 3 is scheduled for 1 p.m. as well.

Central Oklahoma is 8-6 this season and 5-4 in league play. The Gorillas of Pittsburg, Kansas are 10-5 overall and have a 7-5 mark in MIAA play.

"Pittsburg State is always a good team and they make you work for everything," UCO head coach John Martin said. "We need to be locked in and focused and for all three games, you have to be that way."

Central is looking to win its third MIAA series this season. The Bronchos took two out of three from Fort Hays State at home and did the same against Emporia State on the road. UCO is coming off a 1-2 weekend at Missouri Southern.

Central Oklahoma welcomes Pittsburg State to Edmond hitting .294 as a team through 14 games played. The Bronchos are averaging 10.3 hits per game and are producing 7.8 runs per game this season. UCO also has 38 extra-base hits (19 doubles, six triples, 13 home runs).

Garrett Takamatsu leads Central on offense. The junior catcher is hitting .383 through 13 games played and is second on the team hits (18), runs (13), runs batted in (13), and home runs (three). Takamatsu has three homers, two doubles and a triple for six extra-base hits.

Ryan Harrel is second on the team with a .367 batting average and the senior outfielder has played in all 14 games for the Bronchos this season. Harrel also has 18 hits (two for extra bases) and has 11 runs scored and nine RBIs this season.

Kyle Crowl, hitting .358, leads the team with 19 hits through 14 games played. He also leads the team in RBIs (16), home runs (five), doubles (five), and is fourth with 12 runs scored.

Joe Mondragon (.352) is tied with Crowl for a team-high 19 hits. Brett Hopkins (.306) is the third Broncho with at least 10 RBIs. Philip Scott (.304) is third on the team with 17 hits and is also second with 13 runs scored.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma brings a team earned run average of 4.99 into this weekend's series. The Bronchos are holding opponents to a meager .244 batting average. Opponents average 7.8 hits per game against UCO and score just 5.3 runs per game against the Bronchos.

Right-handed starter Luke Anderson has a 2.79 ERA through four appearances and is 1-2 this season. He's thrown 19 1/3 innings and has a team-high 27 strikeouts. Anderson has allowed nine runs, six earned, and just eight walks in four starts this season.

Grant Larson, a left-handed starting pitcher, has a team-high 21 innings pitched. He's at a 3.43 ERA in five appearances, three starts, and has 15 strikeouts.

Kyler Patterson has made four starts as well and has 21 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings. Brayden Nelson, six appearances and two starts, has 13 strikeouts in 14 innings. Nelson is 3-0 this season and has a 1.29 ERA.

Pittsburg State comes to Edmond with a team batting average of .286. The Gorillas score 8.9 runs per game on 9.8 hits per game. Defensively, Pitt State has a 5.11 team ERA and allows six runs per game on 9.2 hits per game. Opponents are hitting .265 against Pittsburg.

Central Oklahoma is scheduled to take a quick break from conference play next week as the Bronchos venture to Ada, Oklahoma to take on East Central on Tuesday before returning home for an MIAA series with Washburn next weekend.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#14 Brayden Nelson: P; 6' 2"; Senior; R/R

#15 Kyler Patterson: P; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

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

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

#25 Luke Anderson: P; 6' 2"; Junior; */R

#20 Brett Hopkins: C; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#44 Grant Larson: P; 6' 7"; Senior; */L

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#14 Brayden Nelson
: 6' 2"; Senior; R/R
: P

#15 Kyler Patterson
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: P

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

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

#25 Luke Anderson
: 6' 2"; Junior; */R
: P

#20 Brett Hopkins
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: C

#44 Grant Larson
: 6' 7"; Senior; */L
: P