University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Lopez, Bronchos Tame Lions

3/30/2012 5:12:00 PM

Edgar Lopez

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EDMOND (March 30) – Edgar Lopez overcame a shaky start to toss a five-hit complete game and pace Central Oklahoma to a 4-1 victory over Lindenwood Friday afternoon at Wendell Simmons Field.

It was the fourth straight win for the Bronchos (19-12), who outhit LU 13-5 behind three-hit outings by Keegan Morrow and Jared Wright. The three-game series continues at 1:30 p.m. Saturday before concluding with Sunday's 12:30 finale.

Lopez gave up one run on two hits in the top of the first inning before settling down and dominating the Lions the rest of the way to record his fourth complete game in nine starts.

The junior right-hander scattered three hits over the final eight innings and no LU base runner made it past second base. Lopez threw 102 pitches in the game, walking three and striking out four to improve to 7-2 and lower his earned run average to 1.70.

UCO made three errors in the contest, but atoned for two of those by making inning-ending double plays.

Lindenwood's first-inning score held up until the third when the Bronchos tied it on Tucker Brown's sacrifice fly that scored Wright, who had led off with a triple to center field.

UCO finally took the lead in the fifth as Wright singled, went to second on Brown's walk, took third on Mike Boyle's bunt single and scored on a wild pitch.

The lead grew to 3-1 in the sixth when Austin Rycroft led off with a double to left field, went to third on Eric Garza's sacrifice bunt and came home on Morrow's groundout.

Wright made it 4-1 in the seventh when he poked a lead-off home run over the left field fence and that lead was more than enough for Lopez.

Wright and Morrow both went 3-for-4 to lead the offense, while Boyle and J.P. Maples had two hits apiece.

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