Harper, Minter Homers Lift UCO Past Jets

WICHITA, Kan. (April 2) – Shayla Harper belted a pair of solo home runs and Jacee Minter added a two-run shot to lead Central Oklahoma to a 7-1 second-game triumph over Newman Friday afternoon.

The No. 17-ranked Bronchos rebounded from a last-inning 8-7 loss in the opener to record their eighth win in nine outings, improving to 21-7 on the season and 10-2 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action.

Six of UCO's nine hits went for extra bases, with Harper and Lexy Dobson both going 2-for-4 in the contest.

"I was proud of the way we bounced back after the first game to at least earn a split today, but we still didn't play that well," head coach Cody White said. "I didn't do a good enough job preparing them this week and that's on me. I have to be better."

The Bronchos broke on top 1-0 in the second on consecutive doubles by Dobson and Mikayla Rutland, with Dobson's going to right-center field and Rutland's to left-center.

Harper made it 2-0 in the third with a no-doubt solo shot to center field and UCO went deep again in the fifth to go ahead 4-0.

This time it was Minter with the big fly as the freshman slugger drove a two-run shot over the right field wall to score Harper, who had reached on a fielder's choice.

Newman finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer, but the Bronchos responded with three runs in the seventh.

Harper didn't take long to spark that uprising, launching the second pitch she saw soaring far over the center field fence for her 10th homer of the season. Rutland added a sacrifice fly and the final run scored on an error as UCO went up 7-1.

Corrina Rivas went the distance in the circle to pick up the pitching win, improving to 11-3. The junior right-hander scattered eight hits while striking out three and walking just one.

The Bronchos continue a 10-game league road-swing next week with back-to-back doubleheaders at Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#3 Mikayla Rutland: UT; 5' 7"; 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

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

#3 Mikayla Rutland
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R
: UT

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

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