Bronchos Rally For Extra-Inning Win

MARYVILLE, Mo. (April 9) – Bailey McKittrick pitched six clutch relief innings and Central Oklahoma scored eight unanswered runs in pulling out an amazing 8-5 extra-inning victory over Northwest Missouri Friday to complete a doubleheader sweep.

The No. 18-ranked Bronchos, who breezed to a 7-0 shutout in the opener, trailed 5-0 after three innings before rallying. UCO scored five two-out runs in the fourth to tie it and then tallied three more two-out runs in the ninth to escape with its 10th win in 11 games.

UCO moved to 23-7 on the season and 12-2 in league play with the sweep. The Bronchos move on to St. Joseph, Mo. Saturday to face Missouri Western in a 4 p.m. twinbill.

"It looked like we were done, but our girls didn't give up," head coach Cody White said. "Bailey came in and did an amazing job keeping us in the game until we got the bats going. I'm really proud of the way we hung in there and kept battling."

McKittrick came on in relief in the third with the Bronchos trailing 5-0 and threw a season-high six shutout innings as UCO got back in the game. The sophomore right-hander scattered six hits while striking out four and walking one to earn the win.

Corrina Rivas retired the final two batters after entering with one out and two runners on in the bottom of the ninth to claim her first save.

UCO finished with 12 hits, led by Tarin Dubler's 3-for-5 performance. Shayla Harper, Lexy Dobson and Taylor McKittrick added two hits apiece.

The Bronchos appeared out of the game after falling behind 5-0 before rallying behind a big two-out, five-run uprising in the top of the fourth.

UCO looked done in that inning when T. McKittrick struck out with two outs, but a wild pitch allowed the freshman to reach first base and Amelya Huggins followed with a single through the right side.

Brighton Gilbert pushed across the first run in the comeback with a single up the middle, Dubler came through with an RBI base hit to center field and Harper's two-run single to left field made it 5-4. An error allowed UCO to score its fifth run of the inning to tie it and neither team scored again until the ninth.

Jacee Minter, who reached base on a fielder's choice, scored the go-ahead run in the ninth on a two-out wild pitch. Dobson and T. McKittrick then came through with back-to-back RBI doubles to left field to up the lead to 8-5.

The Bearcats had a pair of one-out hits in the bottom of the ninth, but Rivas came on to extinguish the threat and close out the big come-from-behind win.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Lexy Dobson: OF; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

#5 Brighton Gilbert: IF; 5' 5"; Junior; L/R

#27 Bailey McKittrick: P; 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R

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

#13 Corrina Rivas: P; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

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

#8 Lexy Dobson
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#5 Brighton Gilbert
: 5' 5"; Junior; L/R
: IF

#27 Bailey McKittrick
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

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

#13 Corrina Rivas
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: P

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

#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