EDMOND, Okla. – Southeastern's season opener started out looking like a pitcher's duel, but an eight-run outburst by No. 34 Central Oklahoma would turn the tables fast as the Savage Storm would fall 10-0 in Friday's contest at the Edmond First Pitch Invitational in Edmond, Okla.
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 0-1 to start the year heading into a Saturday afternoon matchup with Emporia State at 4 p.m. in Edmond.
Cody Nitson was saddled with the loss after tossing 4.2 scoreless innings before allowing three runs with two outs in the fifth inning, ultimately finishing with three runs allowed on three hits in 5.0 innings pitched with seven strikeouts.
Hunter Capps came on in relief but was tagged for five runs, four earned, on two hits but was unable to record an out.
Davis Jenks would get the Storm out of that inning and toss 2.0 scoreless while allowing two hits and striking out three.
Jacob Bigham would come on in the eighth and allow two runs on a hit for the Bronchos to trigger the run rule.
On offense,
Harrison Whitworth collected a pair of hits, including a double, while
Austin Ferguson added a double as well, with
Easton Elliott and
Caleb Dubler turning in a hit each.
The teams were scoreless through four full innings, with SE collecting two hits in the third and another in the top of the fourth before UCO would get its first.
The Storm would leave a pair of runners in scoring position in the third and another in the top of the fifth before the Bronchos took advantage of a pair of two-out walks in the fifth by following them with a triple and a double to drive in three runs and take a 3-0 lead.
That would balloon to 8-0 after a five run sixth inning.
Southeastern would get another runner into scoring position in the top of the eighth but was unable to score, allowing a two-run bottom of the eighth by UCO which triggered the run rule.
