Softball 2/20/2020 8:12:00 AM

Bronchos Host UCO Festival This Weekend

Central Oklahoma hosts its third straight home event this weekend when the Bronchos play four games in the UCO Softball Festival.

UCO, 9-8 on the season, starts Friday at 4 p.m. against Midwestern State (1-10) before taking on Cameron (9-5) at 6 p.m. The Bronchos return Saturday to face No. 21-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce (6-3) at 4 p.m. and finishes Sunday with a 12 p.m. contest against St. Mary's (5-10).

"It's going to be another tough weekend," head coach Cody White said. "We've played pretty well at times this season, but haven't been very consistent. The team is working hard and hopefully we'll come out ready to play like we're capable of."

Central is in the midst of a 19-game homestand, having gone 8-3 in the first 11 games. The Bronchos went 6-0 in the UCO Invitational two weeks ago and was 2-3 in last weekend's UCO Classic.

Hazel Puempel and Brighton Gilbert have been the team's offensive ringleaders in the early going.

Puempel is hitting .471 and ranks in the top five nationally in three categories – hits (third with 24), doubles (fourth with seven) and total bases (fourth with 37). The senior outfielder also has 13 runs batted in an eight stolen bases.

Gilbert has a .467 average and leads NCAA Division II in hits with 28. The junior shortstop batted a sizzling .571 (12-for-21) in five games last weekend and is riding a 10-game hitting streak.

Lexy Dobson is the only other player over the .300 mark at .328, which includes six doubles, two triples and two home runs. She's fifth nationally in total bases with 36.

A pair of newcomers – freshman Kylee Lynch and junior transfer Corrina Rivas – pace the pitching corps.

Lynch is 5-3 with a 1.28 earned run average, having started five of the 10 games she's appeared in. Rivas is 4-4 with a 1.67 ERA and has thrown a team-high 50 1/3 innings in nine games with eight starts.

UCO opens Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play after this weekend, hosting Northeastern State and Rogers State on March 6-7.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#5 Brighton Gilbert: UT; 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/R

#13 Corrina Rivas: P; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#22 Kylee Lynch: P; 5' 8"; Freshman; L/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

#5 Brighton Gilbert
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/R
: UT

#13 Corrina Rivas
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: P

#22 Kylee Lynch
: 5' 8"; Freshman; L/R
: P