EDMOND – Central Oklahoma (3-0) erased a few Oklahoma Baptist threats on Saturday night, winning 6-3 in the Edmond First Pitch Classic at Wendell Simmons Field.
The Bison suffered their first loss of the season and moved their record to 2-1.
One of the main storylines on this night was OBU's unsuccessful at-bats with runners occupying the bases. By game's end, the Bison stranded 11.
The host Bronchos struck first with a pair of runs in the opening inning. Ryan Strickland and Ty Hammack each drove in a run as UCO claimed a 2-0 advantage.
After the Bronchos added their third run in the second frame, the Bison dug in and tied it. On the mound,
Nolan Feazle posted three straight shutout innings from the third through the fifth. He induced five ground-ball outs and in that time, the Bison offense rallied.
Third-inning action saw senior catcher
Alex Schroeder drive in
Isiah Lissade with a sacrifice fly to center. Then a frame later, new third baseman
Spencer Dickinson came up big. After
Troy Shields was hit-by-pitch, Dickinson smashed a two-run shot to left field. That was his first homer in a Bison uniform, and it tied the game at 3-3.
UCO then made a pitching change to Justin Smith. That move paid dividends as he tossed the next 2.2 innings and only allowed one walk with six strikeouts.
As for the Bronchos offense, they retook the lead, 4-3, on a wild pitch before scoring two more in the seventh. Carson Carpenter tripled which scored the team's fifth run. Strickland then drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right.
OBU's offense had its chances late too. In the eighth, it left the bases loaded before leaving two more stranded in the ninth.
The Bison will have their first home games next week. They will host New Mexico Highlands (0-3) on Feb. 8 at 4 p.m.
