Softball 3/10/2021 4:44:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Sweeps Northeastern State

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma softball beat Northeastern State 6-4 Wednesday afternoon in the second of two MIAA contests between longtime rivals. Central won 2-0 in the first game earlier Wednesday.

"I'm proud of this team for competing the way they did today," UCO head softball coach Cody White said. "NSU is a very good team and it's hard to get a win at their place, but our girls came out and battled and they found a way. Now we need to try to keep this kind of play going."

Central didn't waste any time jumping out to an early lead in Game 2 as the Bronchos plated a pair of runs in the first inning.

Tarin Dubler led off with a single to center field before Brighton Gilbert singled to the pitcher on a bunt. Jacee Minter grounded out to move the runners up a base. Then Hazel Puempel also grounded out but scored Dubler on the play and moved Gilbert to third. Allie Eicher followed that with a single that scored Gilbert and gave the Bronchos a 2-0 lead.

UCO unloaded in the top of the third in building a six-run lead.

Lexy Dobson reached on a fielder's choice after Eicher led off with a single. Halley Randolph followed that with a single of her own to put two runners on base. Amelya Huggins was up next and the junior catcher connected on a double to left center that scored both Dobson and Randolph and gave the Bronchos a 4-0 lead.

UCO wasn't done. Shayla Harper tripled to score Huggins and Dubler added a sacrifice fly to score Harper and Central then led 6-0.

Corrina Rivas got the start in the circle for the Bronchos and retired each of the first six Riverhawks before one reached on an error in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs in the third, NSU broke up the no-hitter with a two-run home run to make it 6-2. The home team added two more in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-4.

Rivas finished the game in earning the win and improving to 6-1 on the season. The junior pitcher threw seven innings, allowed four hits and three walks while striking out three. She gave up four runs but only two were earned.

The Bronchos scattered 12 hits in Game 2. Dubler finished the game 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Her only out of the day was a sacrifice fly. Eicher also had a three-hit game, finishing 3-for-3 with an RBI and one walk. Harper made it three Bronchos with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, and one run scored.

Gilbert, Dobson, Randolph, and Huggins each added one hit to aid the effort.

Central Oklahoma will continue its six-games in three-days midweek marathon Thursday. UCO will play at Rogers State to wrap up a busy week. First pitch from Claremore, Oklahoma is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

#10 Allie Eicher: IF; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

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

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

#17 Halley Randolph: C; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#4 Tarin Dubler: IF; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

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

#25 Amelya Huggins: IF/C; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#11 Shayla Harper: IF; 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R

#12 Jacee Minter: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

#10 Allie Eicher
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: IF

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

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

#17 Halley Randolph
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: C

#4 Tarin Dubler
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: IF

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

#25 Amelya Huggins
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF/C

#11 Shayla Harper
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#12 Jacee Minter
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: OF