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EDMOND (Feb. 17) -- A big early lead turned out to be just enough for Central Oklahoma as the Bronchos held on for an impressive 10-8 upset of No. 1-ranked Emporia State Wednesday afternoon in their 2010 home debut.
UCO, which lost three of four games to No. 10 Abilene Christian in its season-opening series, took charge with a four-run uprising in the first inning and was on top 10-2 after six innings before staving off the previously unbeaten Hornets' late rally.
Taylor Brown keyed a 15-hit attack with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, while Kale Murphree came on to quell ESU's comeback in earning his first save. The Bronchos used six pitchers in the contest, with starter Kade Kauk claiming the win after throwing three shutout innings.
“That's a great win and shows that we can compete with the best teams when we show up to play,” UCO coach Wendell Simmons said. “We really swung the bats well, made some big plays in the field and got some good pitching from a couple of guys.”
The Bronchos took charge in their initial at bat, putting together five hits to break on top 4-0, getting a two-run single from Brady White and a run-scoring single from John Bryant.
UCO made it 5-0 in the third on Casey Bruns' RBI hit and answered ESU's first run in the fourth with two of its own in the bottom of that frame as Taylor Brown had an RBI double and Luke Yost a run-scoring groundout.
The Hornets got another run in the fifth to make it 7-2, but again the Bronchos responded in their next at bat. This time UCO used a two-run double by Tucker Brown and an RBI single by Taylor Brown to push across three runs and stretch its advantage to 10-2.
ESU rallied with two runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to make it close, but Murphree came on toe leave the bases loaded in the eighth before putting the Hornets down in order in the ninth to preserve the big win.
Tucker Brown had three hits for the Bronchos, with Bruns, Bryant and Kauk adding two apiece.
The Bronchos return to Lone Star Conference play Saturday, hosting East Central for a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
