Baseball 4/11/2023 8:29:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Earns Sweep In Tahlequah

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Central Oklahoma beat Northeastern State 8-4 Tuesday night to earn a three-game sweep in the MIAA series against its longtime in-state rival.

UCO improved to 27-11 on the season overall and 15-9 in conference play with Tuesday's win, which is the fifth in a row for the Bronchos. Central Oklahoma returns home this weekend for a three-game MIAA series with Northwest Missouri beginning Friday night at Wendell Simmons Field.

"They're a good team that's really always in the game, so it was good for the guys to put them away," UCO head baseball coach John Martin said. "We had a lot of chances that we left out there, but that one big inning was enough and our pitchers did a good job of limiting their offense."

Central Oklahoma put up 11 hits in the game and despite leaving 11 on base, a seven-run fifth inning put the Bronchos in position to earn the victory.

Aiden Proctor went 3-for-6 to lead the way. Seth Gray, Jaden Parsons, and Wyatt Gray all had two hits in the game, with Seth and Parsons hitting a double each. Noah Olson and Landen Wood also had one hit apiece.

Aiden Bagwell got the start for UCO and was solid in 2 1/3 innings of work. He allowed four hits and two runs. Grant Zwald threw 2 2/3 innings of relief work and allowed one run on one hit and a walk. Jase Farmer did the same in two innings of relief work.

Jacob Bailey and Valek Cisneros both threw one inning to close it out and neither allowed a hit.

Zwald and Cisneros both struck out two batters while Bagwell and Farmer recorded one strikeout each.

Central Oklahoma got one run in the top of the first inning after Proctor led off the game with a single to right field. Olson singled to move Proctor to third, then Parsons singled on a bunt to score Proctor and give the Bronchos a 1-0 lead.

NSU took a 2-1 lead in the third, but a big inning was on the way for the Bronchos.

Parsons led off the top of the fifth reaching on an error by the NSU shortstop, then Cameron Uselton was hit by a 2-0 pitch before Wyatt Gray reached on a fielder's choice where all runners were safe. Wood then drew a four-pitch walk that scored Parsons and tied the game, 2-2.

UCO was just getting started.

Austin Lambert hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Uselton. Proctor hit a two-RBI single down the right field line to score Wyatt Gray and Wood. Then Seth Gray hit a two-RBI double to right center to score Proctor and Orlando Gonzalez, who walked earlier in the inning, giving the Bronchos a 7-2 lead.

Parsons returned for the second time in the inning and drew a walk before Uselton flied out to center field to score Seth Gray and the sac-fly made it 8-2.

NSU added runs in the bottom of the fifth and seventh to reach the final, 8-4.

Central Oklahoma now turns its attention to Northwest Missouri (8-27, 6-18 MIAA). The Bearcats lost Tuesday against Washburn and will play Quincy (Ill.) before heading to Edmond this weekend. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. with Game 2 Saturday at 3 p.m. The teams wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m., with Senior Day ceremonies preceding first pitch.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Jase Farmer: P; 6' 4"; Junior; */R

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

#17 Wyatt Gray: C; 6' 1"; Junior; B/R

#12 Austin Lambert: IF; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

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

#0 Jaden Parsons: IF; 5' 10"; Junior; L/R

#6 Landen Wood: OF; 6' 0"; Senior; L/L

#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

Players Mentioned

#21 Jase Farmer
: 6' 4"; Junior; */R
: P

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

#17 Wyatt Gray
: 6' 1"; Junior; B/R
: C

#12 Austin Lambert
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: IF

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

#0 Jaden Parsons
: 5' 10"; Junior; L/R
: IF

#6 Landen Wood
: 6' 0"; Senior; L/L
: 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