Baseball 5/13/2025 2:30:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Open Regionals Thursday

Central Oklahoma Plays Arkansas Tech In Regional Opener Thursday In Warrensburg, Missouri

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Oklahoma opens the NCAA Tournament Thursday night with a 6 p.m. Central Regional contest against Arkansas Tech at the University of Central Missouri's Crane Stadium.

UCO is the No. 4 seed in the Central Regional and Arkansas Tech is the No. 5 seed. Central Missouri is the No. 1 seed and will play No. 8 Harding Thursday at 2 p.m.

The two first-round losing teams will play Friday at 2 p.m. in an elimination game, with both winning teams playing Friday at 6 p.m. The consolation final is Saturday at 2 p.m. with the regional final Saturday at 6 p.m. An if-necessary game is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. if Saturday night's winner has one loss.

Central Oklahoma takes a 36-15 record into the national tournament. The Bronchos went 33-15 in the regular season, with a 23-13 record in the MIAA. UCO was the No. 4 seed in the MIAA Baseball Championship as well and went 3-0 last weekend in Joplin, Missouri to win the league title.

This week marks UCO's 12th trip to the national tournament, where the Bronchos have a 22-23 all-time record. Central Oklahoma is 3-8 in tournament openers. Last spring, the Bronchos went 1-2.

UCO is 1-2 against Central Missouri in the national tournament, with both losses coming in Warrensburg in 2019. The win came against the Mules in 1997 at the national finals. The Bronchos have never played Arkansas Tech or Harding in the national tournament.

Central Oklahoma is ranked No. 28 in this week's ABCA Top 30 coaches' poll. The Bronchos have been in the Top 30 or receiving votes in every poll this year. Central Missouri is ranked No. 7 heading into this week's regional. Arkansas Tech is receiving votes.

UCO ranks in the Top 10 in the country in fielding percentage this season, coming in at No. 7 with a .977 mark. The Bronchos are Top 20 in sacrifice flies (32) and triples (21).

Caden Robertson highlights the offense, with the senior outfielder ranking among the best in the country at the plate this season. From Magnolia, Texas, Robertson ranks fourth in home runs (22), fifth in total bases (167), 13th in slugging percentage (.823), and 14th in RBIs (75).

Robertson was named MIAA co-Player of the Year and his 22 home runs this season are just one shy of the UCO record of 23 set by Ray Danzy in 2001.

Orlando Gonzalez, who was named Most Outstanding Player for last week's MIAA Baseball Championship, has a team-high .366 batting average. Gonzalez moved ahead of Robertson's .365 average. From Panama, Gonzalez has 70 hits this season, including 11 home runs and 11 doubles. He is second on the team with 19 stolen bases as well.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma has a Top 50 team ERA at 4.94, which ranks third in the MIAA. The Bronchos are led by starters Brett Pense, Danny Satterlee, and Dax Sharp.

Sharp has a 1.19 ERA through 60.2 innings pitched this season. That ranks No. 1 in the entire country. Opponents are hitting just .195 off the senior lefty. Pense has a 4.30 ERA with a team-high 67 innings pitched. He also leads the team with 67 strikeouts. Satterlee has a 5.15 ERA in 57.2 innings, with 41 Ks. Sharp is 7-1, Pense is 4-2, and Satterlee 5-3 this season.

Valek Cisneros highlights the bullpen as the closer. The senior right-hander has 12 saves in 21 appearances this season. He is up to 31 for his career, which is both a UCO and MIAA career record. Cisneros has 35 strikeouts in 24 innings this season.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#47 Caden Robertson: OF; 6' 4"; Senior; R/L

#7 Dax Sharp: P; 6' 2"; Senior; */L

#24 Danny Satterlee: P; 6' 3"; Sophomore; */R

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#47 Caden Robertson
: 6' 4"; Senior; R/L
: OF

#7 Dax Sharp
: 6' 2"; Senior; */L
: P

#24 Danny Satterlee
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; */R
: P