EDMOND, Okla. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team opened its 2025 season with a 12-9 win over Central Oklahoma in the Edmond First Pitch Classic at Wendall Simmons Field in Edmond, Okla., on Friday afternoon.

The Bronchos (0-1) took the early lead scoring two runs four batters into the game. Grant Randall led off the game with a single to short and went to third on Carson Carpenter's double to right. Garrett Casey drove in the first run with a single through the left side of the infield scoring Randall and Carpenter scored the second run on Caden Robertson's double play groundout to third.

The Tritons countered scoring six times on just one hit in their half of the second. A wild pitch and a hit by pitch with the bases loaded tied the game and then Braedon Stoakes put UMSL in front with a single to right that brought home Justin Simard and Jake Isaacs.

Blythe scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-2 and then Barrett Rose brought in Stoakes with a sacrifice fly to center.

UCO tied the game in the fourth scoring four times on four hits highlighted by Casey's game-tying two-run double to center.

UMSL retook the lead putting up a four-spot in the seventh. Andrew Buescher broke the tie with a single to left scoring Stoakes from third. After a pitching change, Cade Grevengoed hit a pinch-hit three-run homer to left center to make it 10-6.

The Bronchos got a run back in the seventh but left the tying run in the on-deck circle.

The Tritons tacked a couple of insurance runs in the ninth on Simard's two-run single to left.

Those runs proved important as UCO loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth and scored two runs to cut the lead to 12-9. Nate Kemp came on to get the final two outs retiring Carpenter on a pop up to short and Casey on a groundout to third to seal the victory.

Each team had nine hits in the contest. UMSL was led by Buescher with two hits. Grevengoed drove in three and Stoakes and Simard drove in two apiece.

Zach Haygood got the start on the mound and allowed six runs on seven hits in four innings pitched. Jacob Arndt picked up the win in relief allowing one run on two hits in two-plus innings pitched. Kemp retired two of the three hitters he faced to pick up his first save.

The Tritons return to the diamond on Saturday morning taking on Oklahoma Baptist at 9:30 a.m. in the Edmond First Pitch Classic at Wendall Simmons Field. The Bison dropped their season opener to Pittsburg State 7-1 on Friday afternoon.