Weaver Sparks Bronchos

4/13/2010 7:00:13 PM

Molly Shivers

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

EDMOND (April 13) – Brittany Weaver smacked a tie-breaking home run and had a key play in the field to spark Central Oklahoma to a 6-2 second-game victory that earned the Bronchos a doubleheader split with East Central here Tuesday afternoon.

The Tigers eked out a 2-1 win in the opener before UCO bounced back to take the nightcap and end a three-game losing streak.

The Bronchos, now 25-13 on the year and 10-4 in Lone Star Conference North Division play, go to Ada Saturday to take on ECU (27-17, 8-10) in another league twinbill.

“That was an important win for us after losing the first game,” UCO coach Genny Stidham said. “Brittany's home run was huge and we had a couple of other key hits that helped us get the lead.”

The Bronchos trailed 1-0 entered the bottom of the third in the second contest when Molly Shivers sparked a rally by reaching on a bunt single and promptly stealing second.

Shivers went to third on a groundout and Kacie Edwards drew a two-out walk before Kelsey Tiger slapped a base hit through the left side to plate Shivers with the tying run. Weaver followed with her second homer of the season, driving the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for a 4-1 lead.

UCO increased its advantage to 6-1 in the fourth as Shivers had an RBI single and Rachel Lowery stole home after singling earlier in the inning.

Weaver made a sensational play at second base in the fifth to keep the Bronchos safely in front, snaring a hard-hit line drive with two runners on base before scrambling to second to double a runner off and end the inning.

The Tigers got their final run on a two-out solo homer in the seventh, but it was too little and too late.

Shivers went the distance in the pitching circle, allowing six hits while walking four and striking out five in improving to 14-7. The senior standout added two hits and two stolen bases, while Tiger also had a pair of hits.

UCO stranded nine runners in dropping the opener, including leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Bronchos took a 1-0 lead in the second on Kayce Raines' RBI single. Ashley Noles led off with an infield single and pinch-runner Pebbles Paxson went to second on Megan Bentley's base hit before scoring on Raines' single to center field.

ECU got both its runs in the fourth, the tie-breaking score coming across on a throwing error, and that 2-1 lead held up the rest of the way.

Rachael Steverson pitched well in taking the loss, scattering six hits and striking out five while giving up one earned run and one walk. Bentley and Raines had two hits apiece.

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