Round Three: Bison Host UCO

SHAWNEE – Game three between Oklahoma Baptist and Central Oklahoma comes this Tuesday at Bobby Cox Field at Ford Park. First pitch is schedule for 5 p.m.
 
The teams have split the season series so far. On Feb. 5, UCO won 5-2 before the Bison came back on Feb. 15 to edge the MIAA squad 5-4. In the two previous matchups, pitching was stellar for both squads.
 
For UCO, it limited the Bison to a .194 team batting average while OBU held the Bronchos to a .230 mark. Like the previous contests, fans that attend tomorrow's game should expect to see a handful of pitchers earn playing time. As for batting, the February games saw Trey Furrey (.333) and Seth Gray (.571) lead their respective squads.  
 
Coming into Tuesday's non-conference bout, each team has lost two of three. UCO (17-8) was defeated by Fort Hays State in Edmond while the Bison (14-10) fell to Arkansas-Monticello.
 
Halfway through the schedule, OBU's pitching has been a pleasant surprise. It ranks first in the GAC in strikeouts (210) while checking in at fifth in ERA (5.66) and opposing batting average (.282). Those marks are surprisingly better than the team's offense. The green and gold are ninth in batting (.299) and tenth in runs scored (179) and RBI (163).
 
Here are OBU's leaders on the mound and in the batter's box:
 

Strikeouts	Jake Hamilton; T5th; 50 Ks
Ks Looking	Hamilton; 2nd; 12
Innings Pitched	Brek Galbreath; 4th; 41.0 IP
Home Runs	Dan Pruitt & Alex Schroeder; T2nd; 8 each
RBI	Kade Self; T6th; 31
Walks	Jayden Shafer; T6th; 19

 
In the other dugout, UCO has the best pitching staff in the MIAA. It ranks first in the conference and 31st nationally in team ERA (3.89). Plus, the Bronchos have attained the most strikeouts (229) in the MIAA while limiting opponents to a .238 average. That latter stat is second-best in the MIAA.
 
On the offensive end, UCO is slotted seventh in the MIAA is batting (.295) and second with 62 two-baggers. Here are the Bronchos that find themselves ranked in the MIAA stat page:
 

Doubles	Gray; 1st; 11
Triples	Gray; T1st; 3
Walks	Cameron Uselton; 2nd; 20
Sac Bunts	Landen Wood; 1st; 7
Saves	Jacob Bailey; T1st; 6
Hits Allowed	Christopher Spry; 3rd; 23
Wins	Aiden Bagwell; T4th; 4

 
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