Late Rally Gives UCO Split in Missouri

Bronchos Drop Opener to Missouri S&T Before Beating McKendree in Extra Innings

BRANSON, Mo. – Brooklyn Lyles' clutch two-run double in the top of the seventh inning kept Central Oklahoma alive and the No. 11-ranked Bronchos went on to beat McKendree 7-3 in eight innings to earn a split on the final day of the Branson Leadoff Classic Tuesday.

UCO dropped a tough 5-4 decision to Missouri S&T to start the day and was down 3-1 against McKendree going to its final at bat. Lyles' heroics kept the game going and the Bronchos scored four runs in the top of the eighth to prevail.

Central finished 4-2 in the season-opening event that was pushed back two days by winter weather. The Bronchos make their home debut at 4 p.m. Friday against Fort Lewis on the first day of the three-day UCO-OC Softball Festival sponsored by Raising Cane's.

"Our goal this weekend was to gain some knowledge as a team and establish some identity," first-year head coach Sam Maples said. "We were able to give opportunities to a lot of players in different positions and situations. We toggled with the lineup to find what worked and gained valuable experience in the circle.

"The first weekend you always hope to be exposed a little bit so you can identify areas that need attention. Going into this next set of games our goal will be to continue building on what we've learned and I'm excited to see the potential unfold for our team."

McKendree took a 3-0 lead in the third inning of the second game and it stayed that way until the sixth when Rylee Lemos launched a one-out solo home run to get UCO on the scoreboard.

Kennedy Clark was hit by pitch to get the seventh inning rally started and pinch-runner McKenzie Niehus went to second when Hannah Demoff drew a walk. Lyles then came through, roping a one-out double down the right field line that scored both runners to tie it.

The Bronchos continued their late-inning surge in the eighth with a four-run outburst, taking the lead on Lemos' RBI single to left field. Clark ripped a two-run single to right and UCO added another run when Mari Scott was hit by pitch with the bases loaded.

Freshman Carleigh Kinnaird went the distance in the circle to earn the win and was brilliant after giving up a three-run homer in the third, not allowing a hit over the final five innings.

Lemos and Demoff had two hits apiece to lead an eight-hit attack.

UCO manufactured four runs on just four hits in the opener against S&T, with the Miners using a run in the top of the seventh inning to pull out the narrow win.

The Bronchos broke on top in the bottom of the first when Lemos walked to lead off, stole second and went to third on a groundout before scoring on another groundout by Jenna Jobe.

S&T scored twice in the second to surge ahead, but UCO tied it in the third as Brooklyn Ryan tripled and Lemos followed with an RBI groundout. The Miners went ahead 4-2 in the fifth and the Bronchos tied it again in the sixth.

Rylee Anglen reached on an error, advanced on a wild pitch and took third on a groundout before scoring on Clark's single to center field. Pinch-runner Niehus raced around to score on Haley Gallo's double to left field to pull UCO even.

S&T broke the deadlock in the top of the seventh with a walk, two singles and a sacrifice fly and the Bronchos couldn't answer back.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Rylee Anglen: IF; 5' 3"; Senior; L/R

#14 Kennedy Clark: C/1B; 5' 7"; Senior; L/L

#8 Rylee Lemos: OF; 5' 6"; Senior; L/R

#13 Brooklyn Lyles: IF; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#7 Brooklyn Ryan: OF; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#27 Mari Scott: UT; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#22 Haley Gallo: OF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#28 Carleigh Kinnaird: P; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

#12 McKenzie Niehus: IF; 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R

#5 Hannah Demoff: IF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#9 Rylee Anglen
: 5' 3"; Senior; L/R
: IF

#14 Kennedy Clark
: 5' 7"; Senior; L/L
: C/1B

#8 Rylee Lemos
: 5' 6"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#13 Brooklyn Lyles
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#7 Brooklyn Ryan
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#27 Mari Scott
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: UT

#22 Haley Gallo
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

#28 Carleigh Kinnaird
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#12 McKenzie Niehus
: 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R
: IF

#5 Hannah Demoff
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: IF