EDMOND – Madison Hamilton has seen limited action in the pitching circle for Central Oklahoma this season, but the freshman came up big when the No. 14-ranked Bronchos needed her Saturday afternoon at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.
Hamilton had thrown just 8.2 innings in six appearances before Saturday and then delivered a clutch complete-game outing in a 3-2 second-game triumph that gave UCO a doubleheader split with the Panthers.
The Bronchos (19-5) had an eight-game winning streak snapped with a 5-2 loss in the opener before bouncing back in the nightcap, scoring the tiebreaking run in the bottom of the sixth and then staving off a Drury scoring threat in the seventh.
Hamilton scattered four hits with no walks while striking out eight in the 98-pitch outing to earn her first collegiate win and even her record at 1-1. She threw three no-hit innings to finish off the first game before getting the call to come right back out for the nightcap.
UCO broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth on Brooklyn Lyles' sacrifice fly. Kennedy Clark walked to lead off and pinch-runner McKenzie Niehus went to third on Haley Gallo's double to right field before hustling home on Lyles' one-out fly out to right.
The Panthers threatened in their final at bat after a leadoff double, with that runner going to third on a long fly out. But Hamilton finished strong, getting a big strikeout on a full-count pitch before inducing a game-ending groundout.
Drury took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and the Bronchos answered with two runs in their half of the inning.
Rylee Lemos led off with a single to right, Brooklyn Ryan followed with a base hit to center and both advanced on a wild pitch before Clark drove a two-run single up the middle.
The Panthers tied it in the fifth, but UCO was up to the challenge.
Central managed just five hits in the contest.
Drury took the opener despite managing only four hits against three UCO pitchers, scoring four runs in the third and one in the fourth. The Bronchos walked a season-high seven batters and also threw two wild pitches that resulted in runs.
UCO tried to pull off a last-ditch rally in the seventh, getting two-out RBI hits from Lemos and Gallo to get within 5-2, but there would be no miracle comeback.
Gallo went 3-for-4 and Lemos had two hits to lead a nine-hit attack.
The Bronchos will be back home March 13 to host Texas A&M-International for a doubleheader before going to No. 13 Oklahoma Christian for a single game March 17. UCO opens MIAA play at home March 20 against Washburn.
