EDMOND, Oklahoma – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team saw its bats stymied by the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos in a doubleheader on Friday.

UCO took the opening contest in seven innings, 10-0. The Bronchos finished the sweep of the Bearcats with a 3-1 triumph in the nightcap.

Game 1
The Bronchos (8-5, 2-3 MIAA) opened with one run in the first, two in the second and one more in the third to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead over Northwest (6-9, 2-2 MIAA).

Junior pitcher Dylan Hall went the distance on the mount for Central Oklahoma, holding the Bearcats to three hits and securing nine strikeouts.

Sophomore infielder Peter Carlson, junior infielder Calvin Rudolph and senior infielder Logan Rycraft notched the three base hits for the Bearcats.

Junior pitcher Quintin Van Ackeren got the start on the mound for Northwest, going five and a third innings, giving up five hits and five runs (three earned) while striking out five.

Other pitchers to see the mound in game one for Northwest included freshman Jacob Gill, junior Tristan Ledger and senior Jarret Cronin.

Central Oklahoma added one more in the six and five in the seventh to bring their lead up to 10 runs over Northwest in just seven innings of play.

Game 2
The winning momentum of the Bronchos from game one, carried over into game two against Northwest as UCO scored a 3-1 win to sweep the doubleheader.

Central Oklahoma notched runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead over the Bearcats.

The Northwest bats just couldn’t get hot in this MIAA matchup with the Bronchos, recording only four hits in the second game.

Northwest’s lone run came in the ninth inning after senior catcher Alixon Herrera hit a one-out double to right center. Herrera was advanced to third on a single from senior catcher Jay Hrdlicka. Carlson stepped into the box and reached base on a fielder’s choice, scoring Herrera. Hrdlicka was out on the play. Rudolph stepped in next, grounding out to end the game.

Junior pitcher Joe Funkhouser got the start for Northwest, pitching six and a 2/3 innings and giving up three earned runs while recording three strikeouts. Freshman Gibson Brown came in to relieve Funkhouser, pitching the final three and a third. Brown did not allow a hit and walked one with three strikeouts.

NOTES: Connor Quick has reached base in 14 straight games … Quick leads the team with a .377 batting average … Peter Carlson owns a team-best five-game hit streak … Brown owns a sparkling 2.03 ERA in seven appearances this season … Brown has struck out 10 in 13 1/3 innings pitched, while allowing three earned runs.

— Northwest Athletics —