University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Strong Finish

4/30/2011 9:20:57 PM

Dax Leone

Game One Box
Game Two Box

WICHITA, Kan. (April 30) -- Central Oklahoma wrapped up a strong finish to the 2011 season here Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Newman to end up with a winning record.

The Bronchos rallied for an extra-inning 7-5 win in the opener and then rolled to a 13-2 rout in the nightcap to end the season with a 24-23 record under first-year head coach Dax Leone, an 11-game improvement over last year.

"This was a really good end to a productive year in our system," said Leone, whose tam won 10 of its last 11 games. "We lost eight games by one or two runs in (Lone Star) conference play and had two series cancelled against teams we were ahead of in the standings, which shows how realistic making the post-season was.

"We almost doubled the win total from last year and cut our team ERA nearly in half, so we made a lot of positive strides. Credit goes to our players for embracing the past history of this program, but also for believing in the future."

UCO trailed 5-3 entering the top of the seventh inning in the opener, but tied it on Mac Gordon's clutch two-out, two-run single and then won it with two more in the top of the eighth.

Tyler Hancock's single started the winning rally in the eighth and Ryan Schoonover followed with a bunt single before Arrow Cunningham's base hit to left field pushed Hancock across with the go-ahead run. Jacob Zinn's squeeze bunt scored Schoonover to make it 7-5.

Jake Tuck put the Jets down in order in the bottom of the eighth to seal it and earn the pitching win, giving up just two hits in 2 2/3 shutout innings.

Hancock and Cunningham had two hits apiece for the Bronchos.

UCO jumped on top early in the second game and was never threatened, finishing with 19 hits while Jordan Stern went the distance on the mound. He scattered 10 hits while striking out a season-high 12.

Keegan Morrow went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to lead the offense, while Cunningham and Tucker Brown also had three hits. Hancock added a two-out, four-RBI outing.

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories