Baseball 3/30/2021 6:23:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Crushes East Central

ADA, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team whipped East Central Tuesday afternoon with a 13-1 blowout of its longtime in-state foe.

Central Oklahoma improved to 10-8 with the win. The Bronchos now turn to their return to league play this weekend when UCO hosts Washburn for a three-game MIAA series at Wendell Simmons Field Friday and Saturday.

Tuesday, Central got off to a hot start.

The Bronchos plated one run in the top of the first inning. Philip Scott doubled with one out and then moved to third on a deep fly to center field. He would score when Garrett Takamatsu singled through the left side. Central led 1-0 and never looked back.

In the top of the second, Cacy Harper led off with a single and Zac Freeman did the same right behind him. Bennett Laurence laid down a sacrifice bunt after that to move the runners up a base. Then Ryan Harrel singled up the middle to score both Harper and Freeman and give UCO a 3-0 lead.

Joe Mondragon followed with a single up the middle of his own. Scott then lined out to center field but earned an RBI as Harrel scored for the sac-fly that made it 4-0.

Central scored for the third straight inning to start the game when Freeman's bunt in the top of the third scored Takamatsu, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

East Central finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning to make it 5-1, then kept the Bronchos off the scoreboard for a frame for the first time in the game.

But in the fifth, UCO poured it on.

Kyle Crowl reached on an error by the ECU shortstop and Takamatsu followed with a double to left center. Harper then drew a walk before Freeman's double to left center scored Crowl and Takamatsu and gave the Bronchos a 7-1 lead. With two outs in the inning, Harrel also doubled, his down the right field line, and that scored Harper and Freeman.

Mondragon followed Harrel with a double to left center – the fourth double of the inning – and that score Harrel to give Central a 10-1 lead in the game.

UCO scored its last three runs in the sixth inning. Freeman earned an RBI on a groundout to short, which scored Crowl, who walked to lead off the inning. With Laurence at the plate, a balk was called on the East Central pitcher and that scored Takmatsu. Kameron Kilchrist scored after that on a wild pitch and UCO had its 13-1 lead.

Takamatsu led UCO with three hits Tuesday. He went 3-for-4 with a double and had one RBI and three runs scored. Mondragon, Scott, Freeman and Harrel each had two hits and each had one double. Crowl, Harper, Freeman and Harrel each scored two runs Tuesday.

Brayden Nelson started for the Bronchos Tuesday and was solid in what was a bullpen game for the Bronchos. Nelson threw two innings, struck out two, and allowed just one hit and no walks.

Lawson Isaacs, Blake Bautz, Ethan Wayland, Owen Logan, Colton Croft, Jake Terry and Kyler Patterson all came in in relief and all threw one inning apiece.

The Central staff allowed only a total of six hits, with no pitcher allowing more than one. UCO issued just five walks and struck out 10 batters. Patterson's three Ks in the seventh inning were a team high.

UCO will open its three-game MIAA series with Washburn Friday at 5 p.m. The two schools will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

#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

#34 Cacy Harper: C; 6' 4"; Junior; R/R

#4 Zac Freeman: IF; 6' 0"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

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

#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

#34 Cacy Harper
: 6' 4"; Junior; R/R
: C

#4 Zac Freeman
: 6' 0"; Junior; L/R
: IF