EDMOND, Okla. – Missouri Western baseball (14-32, 12-23 MIAA) fell at Central Oklahoma 9-2 Friday in the second game of a three-game series at Wendell Simmons Field in Edmond, evening the series at a game apiece.
The big moment of the game came in the bottom of the third inning when UCO, extended their lead to 6-0, thanks to a grand slam from UCO's Orlando Gonzalez.
Trailing 7-0 after the sixth, Missouri Western scored its two runs in the top of the seventh with RBI singles from
Karson Green and
Blake Venneman.
UCO tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, and held the Griffs off the board thereafter.
Colby Deaver (3-7) took the loss, going 2.1 innings in the start. He was tagged with four earned runs, while walking two and striking out one.
Jayson Shorb tossed 3.2 innings of middle relief, striking out three and allowing just one earned run in that time.
Offensively,
Frank Gall was a season-best 4-for-4 at the plate with a double.
Jackson Bryant was 3-for-4 with a run scored and a double as well.
Missouri Western concludes the series with the rubber match set for Saturday at noon – a game that could determine whether or not the Griffons make the MIAA Baseball Tournament.
It'll also depend on whether or not Northeastern State beats Missouri Southern on Friday and Saturday.
The Griffons, as of Friday afternoon, have a one-game lead on NSU in the MIAA standings for 10
th place.
The RiverHawks, however, hold the tiebreaker over Missouri Western, having taken two out of three game in a series played in St. Joseph back in March.
