Central Downs Gorillas In Opener

EDMOND (March 27) – Luke Anderson and a pair of relievers limited Pittsburg State to four hits as Central Oklahoma claimed an 8-2 first-game win Saturday afternoon at Wendell Simmons Field.

The Bronchos improved to 9-6 on the season and 6-4 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play heading into Saturday's second game. The Gorillas fell to 10-6 and 7-6.

Anderson started on the mound and went the first 6 2/3 innings in picking up the win, evening his record at 2-2. The junior right-hander gave up three hits and two runs while striking out five and walking one.

Colton Croft took over with two outs in the seventh and gave up one hit with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings, while Lawson Isaacs fanned two in a perfect ninth to close out the game.

Colton Bertus, Joe Mondragon and Philip Scott had two hits apiece to lead UCO's 10-hit offensive attack.

The Bronchos broke on top 1-0 in their first at bat when Bertus led off with a double down the left field line and ended up scoring on Scott's two-out double to center field.

PSU tied it in the top of the fourth, but Central went back in front to stay in the bottom of that frame when Scott led off with his second double of the game and eventually scored on Ryan Harrel's RBI groundout.

The Bronchos pushed their lead to 4-1 in the fifth on Mondragon's run-scoring double and Kyle Crowl's sacrifice fly, then made it a 7-1 cushion in the sixth.

Brendan Ezell had the big blow in that inning, belting a two-run home run to right field after Harrel was hit by pitch to start things.

The teams traded runs in the seventh as UCO stayed safely in front.

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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

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

#31 Lawson Isaacs: P; 5' 10"; Junior; */R

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

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

#31 Lawson Isaacs
: 5' 10"; Junior; */R
: P