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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Kennedy Clark
Kennedy Clark
5
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 38-10, 15-4 MIAA
2
Pittsburg St. PSU 43-3, 15-2 MIAA
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
38-10, 15-4 MIAA
5
Final
2
Pittsburg St. PSU
43-3, 15-2 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 5 8 1
Pittsburg St. PSU 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1

W: Beard, Shelby (19-5) L: Emma Crabb (14-2)

7
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 39-10, 16-4 MIAA
3
Pittsburg St. PSU 43-4, 15-3 MIAA
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
39-10, 16-4 MIAA
7
Final
3
Pittsburg St. PSU
43-4, 15-3 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 1 2 3 0 0 1 7 9 1
Pittsburg St. PSU 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 6 0

W: Kinnaird, Carleigh (16-3) L: Lexi Franklin (12-1) S: Hamilton, Madison (1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Bronchos Sweep No. 2 Pittsburg State

UCO Earns 5-2 and 6-3 Wins in Key MIAA Showdown

PITTSBURG, Kansas – Clutch hitting, big-time pitching and reliable defense resulted in an impressive doubleheader sweep for Central Oklahoma Friday afternoon.

The No. 17-ranked Bronchos claimed 5-2 and 7-3 wins over MIAA leader and No. 2 Pittsburg State, which had lost just twice in its first 45 games. UCO needed extra innings to take the opener before building a 6-0 lead in the second-game victory.

"We had so much fun today," head coach Sam Maples said. "Our team gets so pumped to compete and they enjoy being in environments like this. We had big guts in the circle and offensively."

The Bronchos improved to 39-10 overall and 16-4 in league play heading into Saturday's 1 p.m. doubleheader at No. 12 Missouri Southern. The Gorillas fell to 43-4 and 15-3.

"Several players stepped up with key hits and our pitchers executed against a lethal Pitt State lineup," Maples said. "We did a great job of staying in the moment. We stayed focused on winning pitches and winning at bats and ultimately it resulted in winning the games today."

Pitt State entered the day leading the nation with a .394 team average, but pitchers Shelby Beard, Carleigh Kinnaird and Madison Hamilton limited the Gorillas to 12 hits in the two games.

"I love my team and they play so hard for each other," Maples said. "What this group has is uncommon and it's a blast to watch them succeed."

UCO overcame a 2-0 deficit in the opener before pulling out the upset with a three-run volley in the top of the eighth.

Pitt State scored twice in the bottom of the third, but the Bronchos tied it in the fourth. Haley Gallo got UCO going with a one-out homer to left field, her 12th of the season, and Kennedy Clark followed with an infield single.

Pinch-runner McKenzie Niehus went to second on Jenna Jobe's base hit to center field and scooted home on Hannah Demoff's single through the left side to make it 2-2.

The Gorillas threatened in the bottom of the seven after putting two runners on with one out, but Rylee Anglen came through with another highlight-reel defensive play at second in turning an inning-ending double play.

Central then took charge in the eighth, ignited by Clark's one-out home to right field. Jobe followed with a single to left-center and Demoff made it 5-2 with a line-drive shot down the right field line for her sixth homer of the season.

PSU managed one hit in their final at bat before Beard closed the door to finish off her 12th complete game of the season.

Beard gave up just six hits and two runs – one earned – while striking out three and walking one in improving to 19-5.

Clark and Demoff had two hits apiece to pace an eight-hit attack.

The Bronchos grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap when Demoff was hit by pitch, went to third on Brooklyn Lyles' single to right and trotted home on Sherri Mason's single through the left side.

UCO made it 3-0 in the third on consecutive one-out triples by Brooklyn Ryan and Gallo and Clark's RBI groundout.

The Bronchos kept their early onslaught going in the third, pushing across three runs to go up 6-0.

Mason got the inning going with a one-out walk, Anglen singled to center and Rylee Lemos smacked a run-scoring double. Kennedy came through with a two-out, two-RBI double down the right field line to push the cushion to 6-0.

The Gorillas scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to make a game of it and had runners on first and second with no outs. Hamilton took over for Kinnaird and promptly escaped the jam with two strikeouts and a groundout.

UCO tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh on Demoff's two-out RBI double to left-center and Hamilton gave up a pair of hits in the bottom of the frame before inducing a game-ending fly out.

Kinnaird allowed four hits and three runs in earning the win, improving to 16-3. Fellow freshman Hamilton picked up her first collegiate save with two shutout innings while striking out four.



 
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