Bronchos Blank Tigers Twice

4/6/2012 6:01:00 PM

Ashley Noles

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

HAYS, Kan. (April 6) – No. 4-ranked Central Oklahoma relied on pitching and defense to extend a lengthy winning streak here Friday with a doubleheader sweep of Fort Hays State.

Amanda McClelland and Rachael Steverson allowed a combined eight hits in throwing back-to-back complete-game shutouts and the Bronchos didn't commit an error in blanking the Tigers 1-0 and 5-0 for their 30th and 31st wins in a row.

It's the ninth-longest winning streak in NCAA Division II history and currently the second-longest at all three levels of the NCAA behind the 32-game streak of Indianapolis, ranked second in Division II.

UCO, now 33-3, entered the day leading Division II in average (.378) and home runs (51), but was limited to 14 hits and no homers. It didn't matter with McClelland and Steverson in the pitching circle.

McClelland gave up just four hits in the opener while striking out three and walking two. FHSU didn't advance a runner past second base and she retired the final 10 batters in improving to 16-1 with her third shutout of the season.

Steverson was even better, fanning eight and walking one in tossing a three-hitter to move to 17-2. It was her sixth shutout of the year and the Tigers had only one runner reach second.

“We had a few chances to score and didn't get it done, but our defense was outstanding and both pitchers threw really well,” head coach Genny Stidham said. “We shut them down, found a way to score a few runs and we're glad to get out of here with two wins.”

The opener was a pitcher's duel the entire way, with the Bronchos needing help to score the lone run of the game in the sixth inning

Nathalie Timmermans drew a lead-off walk to start the inning, but she was forced out at second on a grounder that allowed Kacie Edwards to reach first. Edwards went to third on Megan Whitmire's double to right-center field and then came across with the winning run on a wild pitch.

UCO had six hits in the first game and came back with eight in the nightcap, getting all the runs it would need in the third inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Edwards and run-scoring double by Whitmire.

The Bronchos extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth as Brittany Weaver and Ashley Noles had RBI base hits, with Edwards adding a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 5-0.

Timmermans and Noles had two hits apiece for UCO, while Edwards drove in two runs.

The Bronchos stay on the road Saturday, going to Topeka, Kan. to take on Washburn in a 1 p.m. twinbill.

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