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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Mikayla Rutland
Mikayla Rutland
3
Winner Missouri Western MWSU 14-0, 5-2 MIAA
2
Central Oklahoma UCO 27-6, 6-1 MIAA
Winner
Missouri Western MWSU
14-0, 5-2 MIAA
3
Final
2
Central Oklahoma UCO
27-6, 6-1 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Missouri Western MWSU 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 7 0
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 6 0

W: Rader, S. (8-5) L: Lynch, Kylee (14-1)

4
Missouri Western MWSU 14-14, 5-3 MIAA
5
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 28-6, 7-1 MIAA
Missouri Western MWSU
14-14, 5-3 MIAA
4
Final
5
Central Oklahoma UCO
28-6, 7-1 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Missouri Western MWSU 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 4 12 2
Central Oklahoma UCO 1 1 1 1 1 0 X 5 9 0

W: McKittrick, Bailey (1-0) L: Kissinger, N (6-7) S: Lynch, Kylee (2)

Game Recap: Softball |

UCO Splits With Missouri Western

EDMOND (March 26) – Shayla Harper's run-scoring single in the fifth inning put Central Oklahoma on top and Mikayla Rutland's unassisted double play in the seventh kept the No. 19-ranked Bronchos there in a tense 5-4 second-game win over Missouri Western Saturday afternoon.

UCO bounced back from a 3-2 first-game loss – its first in 18 games this season at Gerry Pinkston Stadium – to earn a split in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheader. The defending champion Bronchos are now 28-6 overall and 7-1 in league play.

"It was a struggle today," head coach Cody White said. "We didn't hit the ball like we're capable of, especially in the first game, and our pitching wasn't what it has been either. We're fortunate to come out of there with a split, but we'll take it and just try to get better next week."

Harper broke a 4-4 deadlock in the bottom of the fifth of the nightcap with a single up the middle the scored pinch-runner Shayleigh Odom, who came in after Mattie Lee's lead-off single and went to second on Rutland's sacrifice bunt.

Neither team scored again, but the Griffons threatened in their final at bat. A pair of singles had runners on first and second with one out when Rutland caught a pop-up near her first base post and made a diving tag on the runner to complete the game-ending double play.

UCO scored single runs in each of the first five innings.

Amelya Huggins drew a bases-loaded walk in the first, Brighton Gilbert had an RBI single in the second, Harper was hit by pitch with the bases full in the third and Huggins delivered a run-scoring single in the fourth before Harper's fifth-inning game-winner.

Harper went 3-for-3 and Huggins had two hits to lead Central's nine-hit attack.

Bailey McKittrick earned the pitching win in relief, while Kylee Lynch closed the game with 1 2/3 shutout innings to pick up the save.

UCO didn't threaten in the opener until the fourth  when Gilbert led off with a single and Huggins walked with two outs, but MWSU's second baseman made a leaping snare of Korbyn Skipworth's hard-hit line drive to end the inning.

Gilbert and Tarin Dubler had consecutive one-out hits in the and sixth and again the Griffons escaped trouble, this time with a fly out and strikeout.

MWSU -- which scored single runs in the second and fifth innings -- added another tally in the top of the seventh to go up 3-0 and that score proved pivotal in staving off a last-gasp UCO rally.

Lexy Dobson's one-out double to right field and Rutland's walk kept the Bronchos alive in the bottom of the seventh, setting the stage for Harper. The junior slugger nearly tied the game, but her high drive to center field went off the wall for a two-run double to make it 3-2.

The Bronchos couldn't complete the dramatic comeback, however, as Gilbert lined out to left field for the final out.

UCO was limited to six hits, getting two apiece from Harper and Gilbert.

Lynch suffered her first loss after a 14-0 start, giving up seven hits in going the distance in the circle. The sophomore left-hander struck out six and walked three.

The Bronchos don't play again until hosting league foe Newman next Saturday for a doubleheader.
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