Softball 3/30/2019 1:15:00 PM

UCO Ready For Road Doubleheaders

No. 2-ranked Central Oklahoma returns to Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play Monday when the Bronchos play the first of two straight road doubleheaders.

UCO -- 26-2 on the season and atop the league standings at 8-0 -- goes to Kearney, Neb. Monday for a 1 p.m. twinbill with Nebraska-Kearney (8-14, 4-4) before moving on to Hays, Kan. Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Fort Hays State (12-11, 5-3).

The games were originally scheduled for Friday-Saturday before being moved back three days because of inclement weather.

"We're a little banged up right now, so I'm anxious to see how the team responds," head coach Cody White said. "We need to have some people step up and I'm confident they will do just that.

"This group has done a great job all year of staying focused and coming out ready to play. They're ready to compete every time they step between the lines, which is all you can ask."

The Bronchos continue to be paced by a high-octane offensive attack. UCO ranks among the Division II national leaders in doubles per game (second, 2.39), average (fifth, .347), scoring (sixth, 7.86 runs/game), on-base percentage (seventh, .439) and slugging percentage (eight, .546).
Five players are batting above .350, with senior standout JoBi Heath leading the way.

Heath is hitting .446 and tops the nation in doubles with 19 in addition to ranking ninth in runs batted in (40), 13th in total base (78) and 18th in slugging percentage (.848). She's hit safely in 26 of UCO's 28 games this season.

Junior Hazel Puempel is batting .409 with 10 doubles and 31 RBI, while senior Carli Jones has a .395 average with seven doubles and 22 RBI. Sophomore Lexy Dobson is hitting .382 with seven doubles and 20 RBI and senior Bailey Thompson has a .353 average with five triples – which ranks sixth nationally – and a team-high nine stolen bases.

Pitching-wise, Central has a conference-best 2.41 team earned run average behind the duo of freshman Bailey McKittrick and junior Sydney McLeod.

McKittrick ranks 12th nationally in wins with a perfect 13-0 record. The rookie right-hander has a 1.85 ERA and has struck out 59 batters in a team-high 79.1 innings.

McLeod is 11-2 with a 1.88 ERA, having thrown a team-best six complete games. The lefty has walked just 20 batters in 63.1 innings.

UCO has beaten the Lopers 10 of the 12 times they've met as MIAA rivals.

UNK, which will be making its home debut Monday, has a .327 team average and 4.83 team ERA.

Carlee Liesch leads the Lopers with a league-leading .507 average and four home runs, while Cheyenne Hamilton is batting .409 with 27 RBI. Sarah Handrahan tops the pitching staff with a 4-4 record and 3.99 ERA.

The Bronchos have a 10-3 series lead over FHSU since joining the MIAA in 2013.

The Tigers are batting .282 as a team and carry a 3.52 team ERA.

Grace Philop (.397) and Elise Capra (.370, four homers) pace the offense, while Hailey Chapman (7-5, 3.04 ERA) is the pitching ringleader.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Lexy Dobson: OF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#13 JoBi Heath: IF/OF; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

#15 Carli Jones: 1B; 5' 7"; Senior; L/R

#22 Bailey Thompson: OF; 5' 4"; Senior; L/R

#27 Bailey McKittrick: P; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#35 Sydney McLeod: P; 5' 10"; Junior; -/L

#28 Hazel Puempel: UT; 5' 9"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#8 Lexy Dobson
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#13 JoBi Heath
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: IF/OF

#15 Carli Jones
: 5' 7"; Senior; L/R
: 1B

#22 Bailey Thompson
: 5' 4"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#27 Bailey McKittrick
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#35 Sydney McLeod
: 5' 10"; Junior; -/L
: P

#28 Hazel Puempel
: 5' 9"; Junior; L/R
: UT