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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Team
5
New Mexico Highlands NMHU 0-4
17
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 4-0
New Mexico Highlands NMHU
0-4
5
Final
17
Central Oklahoma UCO
4-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
New Mexico Highlands NMHU 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 5 5 2
Central Oklahoma UCO 1 0 4 5 5 2 X 17 5 1

W: Hosack, Aaron (1-0) L: Castillo,Dominick (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Chris Brannick

UCO Opens Season With 4-0 Home Sweep

Central Oklahoma Won All Four In Season Opening Edmond First Pitch Classic

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma wrapped up its season-opening Edmond First Pitch Classic Sunday with a run-rule victory over New Mexico Highlands to move to a perfect 4-0 on the year.
 
UCO beat Highlands 17-5 on Sunday, after topping the Cowboys from Las Vegas, New Mexico 4-2 on Friday. The Bronchos also run-ruled East Central 11-1 to open the season Thursday, and Central won 6-3 over Oklahoma Baptist Saturday night.
 
Sunday, on a cold and soggy afternoon, the Bronchos didn't have any struggles with New Mexico Highlands. Dax Sharp made his Central debut and the lefty threw four solid innings, striking out five batters. He allowed one run on two hits.
 
Central used five pitchers in the game. Diego Dominguez was the first out of the bullpen and he faced three batters, walking two and hitting another, before Aaron Hosack followed him out of the bullpen. Hosack was also making his UCO debut. He struck out two in one inning of work, didn't allow a hit, and only issued one walk.
 
Matt Engler came on in the sixth and gave up three runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out one batter before Peyton Medeiros came on as the fourth UCO pitcher to make his debut. Medeiros threw the final 1 2/3 innings and gave up one hit and recorded one strikeout.
 
On offense, Central scored 17 runs on just five hits. Kaleb Glass and Orlando Gonzalez both hit doubles and Garrett Long hit a two-run home run. Cameron Uselton had two singles worth three RBIs.
 
UCO managed 17 runs in the game because of 15 walks. Highlands also issued four more free bases via hit by pitch. And there were four balks called to allow baserunners to advance.
 
Central Oklahoma scored once in the bottom of the first before the only zero on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. Then it was four runs in the third, five runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, and two more in the sixth.
 
Uselton scored Hammack on an RBI single in the first, then he scored Glass and Long the same way in the third. Gonzalez also doubled in the third to score Uselton, and he scored on a delayed double steal before Drew Williams was out on the base path.
 
Long hit his first home run in a UCO uniform in the fourth inning, scoring Ty Chapman on the play. Glass and Carpenter stood on the corners later that inning before both attempted to steal bases. Highlands threw after Carpenter and Glass scored on that play. Carpenter advanced to third on the play and then scored on a wild pitch after that.
 
Hammack was also on the bases then and scored later from third on one of the Highlands balks. UCO led 10-1 after four.
 
UCO scored five runs in the fifth and did it without recording a single hit. Highlands made a pitching change before the inning started and then the first seven Central Oklahoma batters earned free bases. A walk, a hit by pitch, and five more walks followed. One baserunner scored on a wild pitch and three more scored on bases-loaded walks. UCO added one more after another pitching change and led 15-2 after five.
 
Central Oklahoma's last inning to bat was the bottom of the sixth. A bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded balk scored Williams and Chapman and gave UCO its 17-5 lead.
 
Mederios got three outs in the top of the seventh and the Bronchos earned their second run-rule victory in four games to start the season.
 
Central Oklahoma opened the 2024 season with the Edmond First Pitch Classic going 4-0. The Bronchos will now play road travelers with five of the next six on the away from home. UCO visits Arkansas-Monticello for a four-game series next weekend.
 
 
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