Baseball 4/29/2021 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Visit Rogers State

CLAREMORE, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team has two weekend road series to end the regular season and the first of those starts Friday at Rogers State.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The two schools will also play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

Friday marks just the second time ever that Central and Rogers State will meet on the diamond. The only other meeting came in 2012, when then NAIA Rogers State edged UCO 3-2. Rogers made the move to NCAA Division II in 2013 and then joined UCO in the MIAA last season, but the season was canceled before the schools got to play.

Central Oklahoma is 18-15 this season overall and has a 13-12 record in the MIAA, which puts the Bronchos fifth in the league standings with two weekends left in the regular season. Rogers State is 16-16 overall this season and has a 12-15 record in the MIAA, which puts the Hillcats seventh in the league standings.

The 2021 MIAA Tournament will have the top four teams hosting the next four in best of three series next month. The four advancing teams will convene in Joplin, Mo. for a double elimination tournament to crown the league champion.

Central Oklahoma heads to Claremore averaging 7.0 runs per game and 9.3 hits per game. The Bronchos have a team batting average of .278 through 33 games played.

Garrett Takamatsu leads the Bronchos with a .398 batting average. He has 39 hits, including seven doubles and five home runs, and adds 25 runs scored and 24 runs batted in.

Kyle Crowl is second on the team with a .371 average but leads the Bronchos in several categories. He's got a team-high 46 hits this season in 33 games played and leads the team with nine home runs and 29 RBIs. Crowl is also second on the team in runs scored with 30.

Philip Scott, hitting .316, is close behind Crowl with 42 hits this season. Scott leads the Bronchos with 15 doubles and has a team-high 33 runs scored. He's also registered 20 RBIs.

Ryan Harrel (.315) and Joe Mondragon (.306) both add a punch to the offense. Harrel is fifth on the team with 34 hits and has 23 runs scored to go with 22 RBIs. Mondragon has 38 hits, including nine doubles, and has 26 runs to go with 19 RBIs.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma heads to Claremore with a 5.86 team ERA. The Bronchos are allowing 6.1 runs per game on 8.9 hits per game.

Luke Anderson leads the UCO pitching staff. The Friday starter is 4-3 this season with a 3.96 ERA. He has a team-high 59 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings pitched.

Brayden Nelson, a Saturday starter, is 6-1 with a 3.19 ERA this season. He's made seven starts but has five more relief appearances earlier this season. Nelson has 33 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings of work.

Central Oklahoma has put up 306 strikeouts this season through 33 games played.

UCO does have one last home game scheduled. The Bronchos intend to welcome Oklahoma Christian to Wendell Simmons Field Tuesday, May 4 for the final home game of the 2021 season. The Bronchos will then finish the regular season at Northeastern State 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

#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

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

#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