No. 16 UCO Falls To Hornets

EMPORIA, Kan. (April 18) – No. 16-ranked Central Oklahoma jumped out to an early lead, but Emporia State came back to upset the Bronchos 5-4 in the first game of a Sunday afternoon doubleheader.

UCO had five hits in taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning only to see the Hornets come back with two runs in the second. The Bronchos went ahead 4-2 in the top of the fifth, but ESU tallied three runs in the bottom of the that inning to go up 5-4 and held on.

Central fell to 26-9 on the season and 15-4 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play. The Hornets improved to 18-17 and 8-9 heading into Sunday's second game.

UCO looked to take control quickly after scoring three runs in their first at bat.

Tarin Dubler wasted no time getting things going, driving the first pitch of the game into left field for a lead-off single. An out later, Jacee Minter planted a 2-0 offering over the left field wall for her ninth home run of the season to make it 2-0.

Hazel Puempel followed with a double to left-center and she came home on Taylor McKittrick's two-out single to left to give the Bronchos an early three-run cushion.

ESU made it 3-2 in the second and it stayed that way until the fifth when Shayla Harper belted a one-out solo homer – her team-high 12th – to put the Bronchos up 4-2.

The Hornets answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the frame to go ahead 5-4 and that's the way it ended.

UCO finished with 11 hits, getting two each from Dubler, Minter, Puempel, McKittrick and Allie Eicher.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Allie Eicher: IF; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

#28 Hazel Puempel: OF; 5' 9"; Senior; L/R

#4 Tarin Dubler: IF; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#11 Shayla Harper: IF; 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R

#12 Jacee Minter: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#23 Taylor McKittrick: IF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#10 Allie Eicher
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: IF

#28 Hazel Puempel
: 5' 9"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#4 Tarin Dubler
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#11 Shayla Harper
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#12 Jacee Minter
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

#23 Taylor McKittrick
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: IF