Errors Cost Bronchos

WICHITA, Kan. (April 2) – Defensive excellence has been one of Central Oklahoma's trademarks this season, but misplays in the field cost the Bronchos dearly in an 8-7 first-game loss to Newman Friday afternoon.

No. 17 UCO – which had committed just one error in its previous eight games and was ranked among the national leaders with a .983 fielding percentage – made three errors and had several other mental mishaps in dropping the opener in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association opener.

The last of those errors came in the bottom of the seventh, allowing the Jets to score the winning run and snap UCO's seven-game winning streak. The Bronchos dropped to 20-7 overall and 9-2 in league play, while the Jets improved to 6-18 and 4-9.

"We're not good enough to just show up and think we can win," head coach Cody White said. "We weren't ready to play and it showed. It was tough with the wind, but we had more mental mistakes than physical ones and that shouldn't be happening at this stage of the season."

Newman also banged out 13 hits in the contest while Central managed eight, two of those by Amelya Huggins.

UCO scored an unearned run in the top of the first to grab a quick lead, but the Jets responded with three runs in their first at bat to go up 3-1.

Tarin Dubler had a run-scoring single in a two-run second that tied it and the Bronchos went ahead in the third on back-to-back doubles by Huggins and Shayleigh Odom. UCO went ahead 5-3 in the fifth when Jacee Minter blasted a two-out solo home run to right field.

Newman surged back in front 6-5 with three run in the bottom of the fifth, with Shayla Harper's solo blast that bounced off the top of the fence in center field in the sixth tying it once again.

The Jets regained the lead 7-6 in the bottom of the sixth with an unearned run and again UCO answered in the top of the seventh. Allie Eicher drew a lead-off walk, then pinch-runner Kayla Mantooth went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Taylor McKittrick's pinch-hit single.

That made it 7-7 and the game appeared headed for extra innings, but a dropped pop-up allowed NU to score a two-out run for the game-winner.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#25 Amelya Huggins: IF/C; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#6 Shayleigh Odom: OF; 5' 1"; Freshman; L/R

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

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

#21 Kayla Mantooth: OF; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

#25 Amelya Huggins
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF/C

#6 Shayleigh Odom
: 5' 1"; Freshman; L/R
: OF

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

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

#21 Kayla Mantooth
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

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