Edmond, Okla. -- Trailing by nine runs after eight innings, the Mid-America Christian University Evangels staged a furious rally but fell just short as the NCAA D-II University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos held on for a 13-10 win in non-conference action Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 28) in Edmond, Okla. 

The Bronchos (9-5) led 13-4 in the ninth when Luis Martinez led off the inning with a homer that was followed by singles from Joe Moore and Jon Jon Lemos.  After a strikeout, consecutive RBI singles from Kory Palmer and Nick Whetzell scored Moore and Lemos.  The inning also featured an RBI groundout by Shane Brinker and run-scoring singles by Taylor Daniels and Martinez that made it 13-10.

With runners on first and second and representing the tying run at the plate, Moore popped out to second base to end the game. 

UCO got off to a quick start on a two-run homer by Tucker Brown in the first and then scored three more in the second for a five-run lead. 

The Evangels (3-8) got back in it with three runs in the third thanks to an error, along with an RBI walk to Lemos and an RBI single by Daniels. 

Martinez led the Evangels' with a perfect 4-of-4 effort at the plate with two RBI, while Daniels went 2-of-4 and also drove in two runs. 

Mike Boyle drove in four runs for the Bronchos and Brown had three RBI. 

The Evangels will now begin a conference series at Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday night (Mar. 1) at 6 p.m. in Shawnee, Okla.  The Evangels will then host OBU in the middle game of the series Friday afternoon (Mar. 2) at 2 p.m.