Box Score

EDMOND (Feb. 17) -- Emporia State used a big 10-run inning to stave off a couple of Central Oklahoma rallies as the Bronchos dropped a wild 18-13 slugfest in their home opener here Tuesday afternoon.

UCO trailed 8-3 after six innings before using a four-run seventh to pull within 8-7, but the Hornets answered with 10 runs in the top of the eighth to grab a huge 18-7 lead.  The Bronchos battled back with six runs in the bottom of that frame and had the bases loaded, but ESU got out of the inning and held on for the win.

The two combined for 30 hits, including 18 for extra bases -- 11 doubles, five home runs and two triples -- as each team used six pitchers.  UCO fell to 4-4 on the young season, while the Hornets improved to 3-2.

"We did a nice job coming back like we did a couple of times, but we couldn't get anybody out when we needed to," said UCO coach Wendell Simmons, whose team hosts Abilene Christian for a four-game Lone Star Conference series this weekend.  "We swung the bats better than we have been, so that was encouraging."

Casey Bruns led UCO's 14-hit attack with a 3-for-5, four-RBI performance as he smacked a double, triple and homer in the contest.  Andrew Foshee had a pair of doubles, while Blake Mitchell, Brent Hodge and Jason Monko also had two-hit outings.

ESU appeared in control when it took an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but Hodge led off that inning with a triple and Monko followed with a pinch-hit double to ignite a four-run rally.  Foshee had a two-run double and Mitchell a run-scoring single as the Bronchos got within 8-7 before the Hornets got consecutive strikeouts with the bases loaded to avoid further damage.

Emporia quickly regained command in the top of the eighth, turning six hits, three walks, a hit batter and a key error into 10 runs -- nine coming with two out -- to seize a commanding 18-7 cushion. 

UCO didn't go down quietly, bouncing back with six runs in its half of the inning to again make things interesting.  Bruns had a two-run triple and Luke Yost a two-RBI single to spark the uprising that got the Bronchos within 18-13 and again ended with the bases loaded.

There would be no miracle comeback, however, as UCO went down in order in its final at bat after keeping the Hornets scoreless in the top of the ninth.