CONROE, Texas (Feb. 5) – Shayleigh Odom drove in five runs and was one of five Central Okahoma players with two hits as the No. 20-ranked Bronchos opened the 2022 season with a 12-4 run-rule rout of Texas Woman's Saturday morning on the first day of the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational.

Odom, who had one RBI in limited action as a freshman last year, smacked a pair of two-run singles along with a run-scoring grounder. UCO built a 7-0 lead, saw the Pioneers pull within 7-4 in the top of the fifth and then scored five times in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.

The Bronchos return to action at 3 p.m. against Texas A&M International, then play two more games Sunday and one Monday.

"It was a good start," head coach Cody White said. "We were aggressive at the plate and did a great job swinging the bats. We weren't as clean as we need to be in the field, but it wasn't bad for the first game."

Central finished with 12 hits, getting two apiece from Odom, Brighton Gilbert, Jacee Minter, Terin Ritz and Amelya Huggins. Kylee Lynch earned the pitching win, giving up just one hit and walking one while striking out three in going the first four innings.

UCO took command early, exploding for three runs in each of the first two innings to seize a 6-0 lead.

Gilbert started the first-inning uprising with a one-out double up the middle and Minter drew a two-out walk, then Ritz made her first collegiate at bat a memorable one as the freshman designated player ripped a run-scoring single up the middle.

Huggins followed with a base hit to left field to load the bases for Odom, who delivered a two-run single to right field to make it 3-0.

The Bronchos continued their early onslaught in the second inning.

Shayla Harper led off with a walk, Gilbert followed with a single down the left field and Harper moved to third on Tarin Dubler's fly out. Harper scored on a throwing error as Gilbert stole second, then Miner and Huggins came through with RBI singles as the lead grew to 6-0.

Central made it a 7-0 cushion in the fourth when Minter scored on Odom's grounder after earlier reaching on a one-out double to right field. Ritz singled to the pitcher and Huggins drew a walk before Minter raced home on Odom's ground ball to the pitcher's circle.

The Pioneers scored four runs -- three unearned -- in the top of the fifth after a lead-off error to pull within 7-4, but UCO answered right in the bottom of that frame.

Harper started things with a lead-off triple to left-center, Gilbert drew a walk and Harper scored on a fielder's choice by Dubler that also left Gilbert safe at second. Minter walked to load the bases and Huggins followed the inning's first out with another free pass to force in a run.

Odom then ripped a two-run single through the right side and Mikayla Rutland ended the game with an infield base hit.