GULF SHORES, Ala. – Rain played havoc with the first day of the season-opening Gulf Shores Invitational Friday, but the No. 25-ranked Bronchos responded with resounding 9-5 upset of No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne.
UCO was scheduled to play two games on the opening day of the three-day event, but was limited to one and overcame a 5-0 deficit to knock off the Bears – who made the Division II Championship last year – following a seven-hour rain delay. A second scheduled game against Union was canceled.
The Bronchos return Saturday to face Spring Hill at 3 p.m. and No. 6 Auburn-Montgomery at 5:15 before finishing against West Florida at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.
"That was a big-time win for us," head coach Cody White said. "We made some mistakes and got behind 5-0 against a great team, but didn't get rattled and found a way to come back. It was a long day with all the delays, but I'm really proud of our girls for staying focused.
"It was a great way to open the season, but we can't dwell on it and have to come back ready to go tomorrow against two more really good teams."
The two powerhouses were locked in a scoreless deadlock through four innings as senior newcomer Sydney Ward had an impressive debut in the circle for the Bronchos. She limited the Bears to one hit in the first four frames, but a series of miscues allowed Lenoir-Rhyne to score four unearned runs in the top of the fifth in taking a 5-0 lead.
UCO answered back quickly.
Sherri Mason led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single, Brooklyn Ryan had a one-out hit to left field and Rylee Lemos walked to load the bases. Emily Deramus got the Bronchos on the scoreboard with a two-out run-scoring single, Terin Ritz drew a bases-loaded walk and an error allowed two more runs to score in making it 5-4.
UCO took control with a five-run volley in the sixth.
Kya Watson started things with a lead-off triple to center field, then Ariah Mitchell's one-out RBI single tied it. Ryan followed with an infield hit, Lemos drove in the go-ahead run with a single to center field and Rylee Anglen added an RBI single before two more runs scored on an error to give the Bronchos a 9-5 cushion.
The Bears had no answer in the top of the seventh and UCO finished off a signature win.
Shelby Beard earned the pitching win, giving up two hits in 2.1 innings of relief work. Ryan went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead UCO's 12-hit attack, while Anglen added two hits.
