Softball 4/20/2021 8:40:00 AM

UCO Visits Crimson Storm Wednesday

No. 16-ranked Central Oklahoma wraps up a 12-game road swing Wednesday when the Bronchos go to near-by Bethany to take on Southern Nazarene in a 2 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.

UCO is 27-9 on the season, while the Crimson Storm of the Great American Conference are 19-17.

"SNU has a lot of offensive weapons and they're really dangerous," head coach Cody White said. "We're going to have to be ready to play."

The Bronchos return to Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play Saturday when they host Pittsburg State in a 1 p.m. twinbill to open a six-game league homestand that closes out the regular season.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO went 3-1 on the road last weekend, sweeping a conference doubleheader from Washburn on Saturday before splitting two games with Emporia State the next day.

Shayla Harper belted four home runs and drove in nine runs over the weekend as the sophomore slugger raised her average to .341. She has 14 homers – tied for sixth on the school's single-season list – along with 32 RBI and is batting .600 (12-for-20) with runners in scoring position.

Taylor McKittrick has hit .588 (10-for-17) with four doubles and six RBI in her last six games and now owns a team-high .361 average.

Five other regulars are hitting .300 or better – Hazel Puempel (.346, eight doubles, five homers, 21 RBI), Jacee Minter (.333, nine homers, 26 RBI), Tarin Dubler (.318, six doubles), Allie Eicher (.311, eight doubles) and Amelya Huggins (.302). Minter has reached base in 20 consecutive games.

Corrina Rivas and Kylee Lynch continue to lead Central's pitching staff.

Rivas is 13-5 with a 2.17 earned run average in a team-high 103 innings pitched. The junior right-hander has appeared in 21 games with 16 starts and has nine complete games to her credit.

Lynch is 12-3 with a 3.27 ERA after winning both starts last weekend. She's allowed just 18 walks in 96 1/3 innings and has eight complete games in 18 starts.

ABOUT THE CRIMSON STORM: SNU, which won two of three games from Arkansas-Monticello last weekend, is hosting UCO for its final two home games of the regular season.

The Crimson Storm are batting .320 as a team while averaging 8.8 hits and 6.3 runs per game.

Mahina Sauer leads SNU with a sizzling .476 average. She also has 11 doubles, 11 homers, 43 RBI and a .903 slugging percentage.

Skye Ah Yat is hitting .392, while Caitlyn Curlee is batting .347 with eight doubles, six homers and 32 RBI.

Brooklyn Sparkman headlines the pitching staff with a 12-7 record and 2.86 ERA. She's struck out 126 batters in 117 1/3 innings.

UCO owns a 13-1 lead in the series, which started in 1994. SNU's lone win was a 2-1 decision in 2014.

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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

#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

#23 Taylor McKittrick: IF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/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

#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

#23 Taylor McKittrick
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: IF