Softball 3/22/2021 10:56:00 AM

Bronchos Host Arkansas Tech Tuesday

No. 23-ranked Central Oklahoma opens a six-game homestand Tuesday when the Bronchos host Arkansas Tech in a non-conference doubleheader that starts at 1 p.m.

UCO is 14-6 on the season after splitting four games in the Hy-Vee Classic in Emporia, Kan. over the weekend. The Golden Sun of the Great American Conference are 8-7.

"It will be good to be back home on our own field," said head coach Cody White, whose team is 8-0 at Broncho Field. "Arkansas Tech has a really strong program and we have to be prepared. There's a lot of things we need to clean up, but I like our approach and they way our players are competing."

The Bronchos return to Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play this weekend with back-to-back home doubleheaders. UCO, 5-1 in the league, takes on Lincoln at 2 p.m. Friday and Central Missouri at noon Saturday.

SERIES WITH ATU: Central and ATU have played just five times in a series that the Bronchos lead 3-2, with four of those five games coming during the 2019 season.

The Golden Sun took the first-ever meeting, 10-9 in 2016. UCO won 3-2 in the 2019 regular season, then the teams played three times in the Central Regional I Tournament. The Bronchos sandwiched 3-2 and 12-0 wins around a 4-2 ATU victory in advancing to the Central Super Regional.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO split games with No. 3-ranked Augustana and Sioux Falls in the Hy-Vee Classic. The Bronchos lost tough 10-8 and 4-3 decisions to the Vikings while beating the Cougars 7-4 and 2-0.

Central averages 7.5 hits and 5.6 runs per game while hitting .280 as a team.

Allie Eicher continues to lead the Bronchos offensively with a .388 average that includes four doubles, three home runs and 13 runs batted in. She drove in both runs in UCO's 2-0 Sunday win over USF.

Tarin Dubler -- who missed the Hy-Vee Classic and is questionable for Tuesday -- is hitting .368 with three doubles, one homer and 10 RBI. Hazel Puempel is the only other regular over .300 with a .328 average along with team highs in doubles (five) and RBI (15).

The Bronchos give up 7.0 hits and 3.5 runs per contest and the pitching staff has a cumulative 3.03 earned run average.

Right-hander Corrina Rivas paces the pitchers with a 7-2 record and 2.30 ERA. She has four complete games in eight starts and has thrown a team-high 54 2/3 innings, with opponents hitting just .238 against her.

Left-hander Kylee Lynch is 6-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 54 innings. She's struck out 33 batters and walked just nine while having completed four of 10 starts.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN SUN: ATU is 6-5 in conference play and lost two of three home games to GAC rival Southern Nazarene over the weekend.

The Golden Sun are hitting .239 as a team in averaging 5.9 hits and 4.3 runs per game.

Paty Loredo has a .444 average to lead the offense, while Caitlyn Wells is batting .432 with seven doubles, one homer and 11 RBI.

Pitching-wise, ATU has a 3.34 team ERA while giving up 6.7 hits and 4.3 runs a game.

Shannon Lasey and Maddy Prough are the main starters for ATU. Lasey is 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings, while Prough is 1-3 with a 4.06 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 31 innings.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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