UCO Set To Open 2021 Softball Campaign

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma is set to make its 2021 debut Thursday when the Bronchos open play in the two-day UCO Softball Classic.

UCO meets a pair of intrastate Great American Conference rivals Thursday, taking on Southwestern Oklahoma at 3 p.m. and Southern Nazarene at 5:30 p.m. The Bronchos return Friday to face Ouachita Baptist of the GAC at 12:30 p.m. before ending against Lone Star Conference member Cameron at 3 p.m.

NO spectators will be allowed inside Broncho Stadium for the games due to UCO's current COVID-19 protocols. Click here to watch the free video and here for the live stats.

"We're excited about getting started," eighth-year head coach Cody White said. "Last season didn't end the way anybody wanted it to and everybody is eager to get back on the field."

The 2020 campaign was halted in mid-March by the coronavirus pandemic. Central was 13-12 at that point, including 3-1 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play.

Nine position players who started at least 14 games last season are back, along with the top three pitchers. All returning players were granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA.

Junior shortstop Brighton Gilbert had a .455 average last year to lead the Bronchos. Senior right fielder Hazel Puempel – a 2019 All-American -- hit .452 with eight doubles and 18 runs batted in and junior center fielder Lexy Dobson batted .337 with seven doubles and three triples.

Second-year freshman Kylee Lynch went 6-4 with a 1.78 earned run average in the circle, while junior Corrina Rivas was 6-6 with a 2.15 ERA.

"I felt we were just coming into our own last year after a slow start and then the season was canceled," said White, who has a 265-110 career record at UCO. "That motivated this team during the off-season and they've worked extremely hard getting ready.

"It may take us some time to figure out exactly what we're going to do at a few positions. We have good depth at just about every position and this group is focused on getting our program back where it belongs."

SWOSU went 4-16 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season and is picked to finish ninth in the GAC this spring. SNU, tabbed for a third-place GAC finish, was 16-8 last year.

OBU was 5-19 a year ago and came in 11^th in the GAC's preseason poll, while Cameron was picked for an eighth-place LSC finish after going 16-11 last season.

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Players Mentioned

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

#5 Brighton Gilbert: IF; 5' 5"; Junior; L/R

#28 Hazel Puempel: OF; 5' 9"; Senior; 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"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#5 Brighton Gilbert
: 5' 5"; Junior; L/R
: IF

#28 Hazel Puempel
: 5' 9"; Senior; L/R
: OF

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

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