Baseball 2/8/2024 12:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Arkansas Monticello In Four-Game Series

Bronchos Hosting Non-Conference Series After Rain Shifts Matchup Back To Edmond

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma opens a four-game series with Arkansas Monticello Friday at 1 p.m. with the first of two doubleheaders this weekend at Wendell Simmons Field.

UCO (4-0) will play two against the UAM (1-1) Friday afternoon before hosting another twin bill Saturday at 12 p.m. against the Boll Weevils from Monticello, Arkansas.

The series was originally scheduled to take place in Arkansas at UAM's Weevils Field, but forecasted rain this weekend shifted it back to Edmond.

UCO played its first four games of the year at home with last weekend's Edmond First Pitch Classic, beating East Central, New Mexico Highlands twice, and Oklahoma Baptist. The Bronchos earned run-rule victories over East Central in the season opener and against Highlands in the second meeting.

UAM opened its 2024 season in Hot Springs, Arkansas with a win over Colorado School of Mines. After its second game against Rogers State was canceled, Monticello lost to Missouri Southern to wrap up its opening weekend in the Dugan Invitational.

COACH SPEAK

Central Oklahoma head baseball coach John Martin has begun his ninth season leading the Bronchos. The Kansas native is 249-148-1 during his time at UCO. He's won one MIAA title (2018) and made three NCAA national tournament appearances (2017, 2018, 2019).

"We had a good opening weekend," Martin said. "Monticello is a really good team and we're going to have to have the right approach to pitching and hitting for every inning of all four games this week.

"We got quite a bit of guys the chance to play, and we hope to be able to do that more often," Martin continued. "We have a deep team we just need to see if we can get it done."

PITCHING POINTS

Central Oklahoma gave up 11 runs in four games last weekend, ending the season-opening festival with a 3.09 earned run average. Opponents scattered 21 hits in four games with a .179 batting average.

Caleb Burchfield, Brett Pense, Preston Giltner, and Dax Sharp got the starts for UCO. Burchfield and Pense both picked up wins in five-inning outings. Pense was the only starter to not give up a run and he only allowed one hit. The four starters also combined for 21 strikeouts (Pense 6, Giltner 6, Sharp 5, Burchfield 4).

UCO used nine relievers. Justin Smith and Aaron Hosack picked up wins out of the bullpen. Smith's eight strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings over two appearances led the team. Valek Cisneros earned two saves in two appearances, striking out five batters in 2 2/3 innings of work.

BRONCHOS AT BAT

Central Oklahoma hit .299 in four games last weekend, scattering 32 hits around the park. The Bronchos scored 38 runs, nearly 10.0 per game. UCO had eight doubles, one triple, and two home runs during opening weekend.

Garrett Long hit .667 in four games with a team-high six hits in nine at bats. Long had one double and a homer. Carson Carpenter hit .571 with four hits in seven at bats. He had a double and a triple, drew eight walks, and scored six runs. Kaleb Glass hit .455, going 5-for-11 at the plate. He stole a team-high five bases and scored a team-high eight runs.

Cameron Uselton and Orlando Gonzalez both had four hits. Ty Hammack, Ty Chapman, and Justin Santoyo each had two hits.

MONTICELLO MAKEUP

Arkansas Monticello is just two games into its 2024 season. The Boll Weevils had 18 hits and scored 13 runs in the two games, hitting .281 for the weekend. UAM hit one double and five home runs – from six different players. The Weevils gave up 14 runs on 14 hits and 23 walks issued, leaving UAM with a 7.41 ERA after opening weekend.

EXTRAS

Glass has five stolen bases this season and now has 47 in his career, which is five short of No. 10 on UCO's career list … Central Oklahoma started the same three outfielders in each game last week … UCO used 16 different position players in four games … Martin needs one win to reach 250 for his career, and he would become the third coach to accomplish that feat at Central Oklahoma.

UP NEXT

Central Oklahoma is scheduled to play at East Central Feb. 13 in Ada, Oklahoma before hosting Oklahoma Christian Feb. 17 in Edmond. Following the OC game, the Bronchos will trek down the road to OKC for a second matchup with Oklahoma Christian Feb. 18 at the Eagles' ballpark.

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Players Mentioned

#32 Caleb Burchfield: P; 6' 3"; Senior; */R

#39 Valek Cisneros: P; 6' 5"; Senior; */R

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

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

#12 Brett Pense: P; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman; */R

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

#9 Carson Carpenter: OF; 6' 2"; Junior; L/L

#13 Ty Chapman: IF; 6' 3"; Junior; R/R

#22 Preston Giltner: P; 6' 4"; Junior; */R

#5 Ty Hammack: OF; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#32 Caleb Burchfield
: 6' 3"; Senior; */R
: P

#39 Valek Cisneros
: 6' 5"; Senior; */R
: P

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

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

#12 Brett Pense
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman; */R
: P

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

#9 Carson Carpenter
: 6' 2"; Junior; L/L
: OF

#13 Ty Chapman
: 6' 3"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#22 Preston Giltner
: 6' 4"; Junior; */R
: P

#5 Ty Hammack
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: OF