Central Oklahoma is kicking off their 2024 season in a familiar way, hosting the sixth edition of the Edmond First Pitch Classic. Over the weekend, the Bronchos will host five other schools, including two from Oklahoma, in an 11 game round-robin event. UCO will be joined by fellow Oklahoma programs Oklahoma Baptist and East Central, conference foes Emporia State and Pittsburg State, as well as New Mexico Highlands. Thursday – Saturday will feature three games per day, starting at 11 a.m, 2 p.m, and 5 p.m, with two final games at 11 a.m and 2 p.m Sunday to cap off the event. As we head into the first full weekend of college baseball across the state, lets take a deeper look at how each of the three in-state programs represented in Edmond this weekend will kick off their seasons.

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Central Oklahoma

Let’s begin with the hosts of the season-opening event, Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos will be looking to build off a 2023 season that featured their best winning percentage since the Covid-shortened 2020 season that saw them sitting at a spectacular 17-3 before the shutdown. The Bronchos will be playing four times this weekend, against three teams, opening their season Thursday afternoon against in-state program East Central. They then move into two more 5 p.m matchups on Friday and Saturday, facing off with New Mexico Highlands and Oklahoma Baptist. Finally, the Bronchos will end the weekend with a second face off with New Mexico Highlands at 11a.m Sunday morning. 

East Central

Moving on to the East Central Tigers, a group lead by first year head coach Kevin Paxson, who will look to build on the foundation laid last season by Sunny Golloway. The Tigers begin the weekend with a Thursday doubleheader, facing Emporia State at 2 p.m, only to turn around and play Central Oklahoma at 5 p.m. ECU then moves on to a 2 p.m matchup with Pittsburg State on Friday, before getting the day off Saturday. Finally, the Tigers will face off with Pittsburg State once again on Sunday at 2 p.m to cap off their opening weekend. 

Oklahoma Baptist

Finally, Oklahoma Baptist rounds out our group of three Oklahoma programs competing in Edmond this weekend. The Bison will look to be back with a vengeance this season, after falling to Southern Arkansas in the Great American Conference Championship in a heartbreaking one run game last season. OBU begins their time in Edmond with an 11 a.m matchup with Pittsburg State on Thursday, before beginning another day full of baseball Friday, with an 11 a.m matchup with Emporia State. Baptist will complete their three game weekend with a 5 p.m game on Saturday where they will face off with Central Oklahoma. 

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Full Weekend Schedule

Thursday

• Oklahoma Baptist vs Pittsburg State 11 a.m Final 17-5 OBU
• East Central vs Emporia State 2 p.m Final 17-1 ESU
• Central Oklahoma vs East Central 5 p.m Final 11-1 UCO

Friday

• Oklahoma Baptist vs Emporia State 9:30 a.m Final 6-2 OBU
• East Central vs Pittsburg State 12:30 p.m Final 9-2 PSU
• Central Oklahoma vs New Mexico Highlands 3:30 p.m Final 4-2 UCO

Saturday

• Emporia State vs New Mexico Highlands 11 a.m Final 15-5 ESU
• Pittsburg State vs New Mexico Highlands 2 p.m Final 11-2 PSU
• Central Oklahoma vs Oklahoma Baptist 5 p.m Final 6-3 UCO

Sunday

• Central Oklahoma vs New Mexico Highlands 11 a.m Final 17-5 UCO
• East Central vs Pittsburg State 2 p.m Final 14-5 PSU

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