EDMOND – Carleigh Kinnaird threw a one-hit shutout and Central Oklahoma used a couple of big innings to throttle Central Missouri 9-0 in the second game of a MIAA doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
The No. 17-ranked Bronchos dropped a tough 6-5 decision in the opener on a three-run homer in the seventh before rebounding in the nightcap. UCO scored four runs in the third and five in the fourth to end the game on the eight-run rule after five innings.
Kinnaird lost her no-hit bid on a one-out infield single in the top of the fifth before finishing off her sixth complete-game outing of the season. The rookie struck out five and walked four in improving to 12-1.
Brooklyn Ryan, Haley Gallo and Sherri Mason had two hits apiece to lead a nine-hit attack, while Gallo and Kennedy Clark drove in three runs each.
UCO is now 25-6 on the season and 3-1 in league play. The Bronchos go on the road for back-to-back conference doubleheaders next weekend.
"It was a really competitive day today," head coach Sam Maples said. "We had a great response in the second game. We saw a ton of growth from our hitters and I thought we pitched well, but you have to give credit to their hitters for capitalizing when we missed. Central Missouri is very well coached and athletic.
"I'm excited for our team to learn and continue to get better."
Kinnaird got out of a tough jam in the second inning in the nightcap after walking the first three batters. The hard-throwing freshman didn't panic, coming back with consecutive strikeouts before inducing an inning-ending fly out.
UCO took advantage of that reprieve in the third to take control, batting around in grabbing a 4-0 lead.
Mason led off with a single through the left side, went to second on Rylee Anglen's sacrifice bunt and took third on Rylee Lemos' infield single. Ryan's single to left pushed across the first run, Gallo followed with an RBI double to right-center and Clark lined a two-run single down the first base line to make it 4-0.
The Bronchos really blew it open in the fourth and again Mason got the inning started, this time with a bloop double to right-center. Anglen reached on an error, Lemos walked to load the bases with no outs and Ryan drove the first pitch she saw to left field for an RBI single.
Gallo kept the inning going with a two-run single up the middle, Clark had an RBI groundout and Jenna Jobe's sacrifice fly made it 9-0.
The Jennies could muster only their lone hit in the top of the fifth as Kinnaird closed out her third shutout.
UCO struggled to get its offense going in the first game and trailed 3-0 after the Jennies scored once in the top of the third and twice in the fourth.
The Bronchos had just one hit heading into the bottom of the fourth before Clark opened the inning with a home run to left-center, blasting her third long ball of the season off the scoreboard.
Brooklyn Lyles kept the inning going with a two-out single to center, Mason was hit by pitch and Anglen singled to left to load the bases for Lemos, who was plunked in forcing in a run that made it 3-2.
UCO surged in front with a three-run outburst in the sixth.
Mason got things going with a one-out walk before advancing on Anglen's perfect bunt single. Lemos reached on a fielder's choice that got Anglen out at second, but a throwing error on the play allowed Mason to score to tie the game.
Ryan followed with a single to left-center and then Gallo ripped a two-run double to right-center to give the Bronchos a 5-3 lead heading to the seventh.
UCM opened its final at bat with a bloop single before consecutive fly outs, but a hit batter extended the inning and then a three-run homer put the Jennies on top 6-5. UCO went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to have its six-game winning streak ended.
Anglen went 3-for-3 to pace the offense.
