Baseball 2/20/2023 10:34:00 AM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Make Season's First Road Trip Across OKC Metro

BETHANY, Okla. – Central Oklahoma is scheduled to play its first road game of the 2023 season Tuesday when the 13th-ranked Bronchos take on Southern Nazarene at 1 p.m.

UCO is 7-2 on the season after three weeks of play. Southern Nazarene is 3-6 this season, which includes a loss at UCO a week and a half ago.

"We're ready to get back on the field after taking the weekend off," UCO head baseball coach John Martin said. "We lost a midweek last week and then had the weekend to think about, so we're ready to get back. Southern Nazarene is a good team and they got us there last year, so we need to be ready to play."

UCO beat Southern Nazarene 7-4 on Feb. 9 in Edmond. Central Oklahoma had won five in a row against SNU before last season's meeting in Bethany. The Bronchos have won 6 of 7 including the matchup two weeks ago.

PITCHING POINTS

Central Oklahoma has a 3.84 team earned run average after nine games this season. The Bronchos have given up 41 runs on 58 hits, or 4.5 runs per game on 6.4 hits per game. UCO's pitching staff has also tallied 85 strikeouts in nine games, just marginally below 10 per game.

Starters Chris Spry and Marcos Lopez lead the Bronchos with 12 strikeouts each and reliever Jeb Jenkins also has a dozen Ks out of the bullpen. Aiden Bagwell, another relieve with a 3-0 record in five appearances, has eight strikeouts.

HELPFUL HITTING

UCO has a team batting average of .333 through nine games this season. The Bronchos have scored 79 runs on 95 hits, or 8.3 runs per game on 10.5 hits per game. The Bronchos have 23 doubles, eight home runs, and four triples in three weeks of play this season.

Cameron Uselton is hitting .400 and has a team-high 12 hits and four doubles this season. He's played in all nine games. Aiden Proctor, who has played in six games, is hitting a team-high .467 with seven hits including one double. Proctor has a .652 on-base percentage with five walks and three hit-by-pitches.

Seth Gray and Kaleb Glass both have 12 hits in nine games. Orlando Gonzalez has 11 and Noah Olson has 10 hits.

HE'S RUNNING

Central Oklahoma has been aggressive on the base paths this season. The Bronchos have 46 stolen bases in nine games on 52 attempts. Proctor is 13-for-14 and Glass is 9-for-9.

SCOUTING REPORT

Southern Nazarene has a 12.71 team ERA, allowing 11.3 runs per game on 11.8 hits per game. The Crimson Storm have registered 49 strikeouts in nine games, just over five per game. SNU has a team batting average of .318, scoring an even 9.0 runs on 10.3 hits per game.

UP NEXT

Central Oklahoma hosts Missouri Western for a three-game MIAA series Feb. 24-26.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#1 Kaleb Glass: OF; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

#13 Seth Gray: IF; 6' 1"; Junior; R/R

#7 Noah Olson: OF; 5' 10"; Junior; L/R

#23 Aiden Bagwell: P; 6' 1"; Junior; */R

#2 Aiden Proctor: IF; 5' 9"; Junior; L/R

#3 Cameron Uselton: OF; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

#4 Jeb Jenkins: P; 5' 11"; Sophomore; */R

#27 Orlando Gonzalez: IF; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#1 Kaleb Glass
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#13 Seth Gray
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#7 Noah Olson
: 5' 10"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#23 Aiden Bagwell
: 6' 1"; Junior; */R
: P

#2 Aiden Proctor
: 5' 9"; Junior; L/R
: IF

#3 Cameron Uselton
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#4 Jeb Jenkins
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; */R
: P

#27 Orlando Gonzalez
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF