UCO Ends Regular Season With Four Home Games

No. 13-ranked Central Oklahoma wraps up the regular season schedule and tries to secure the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship this weekend with a pair of home doubleheaders.

The Bronchos, 29-9 on the season and 18-4 in league play, host Nebraska-Kearney (14-24, 5-17) Friday for a 2 p.m. twinbill before taking on Fort Hays State (22-18, 15-7) Saturday in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.

UCO has a one-game lead over Central Missouri (17-5) in the conference standings and both teams have four games left. The Mules host Lincoln Saturday before going to Washburn Monday.

"It's obviously a big weekend for us," head coach Cody White said. "One of our main goals every year is to win the conference title and we have a chance to do that, but we'll have to play well.

"We want to finish the regular season on a strong note so we can take some momentum into the postseason."

Central is assured of hosting a best-of-three series in the first round of the MIAA Tournament the weekend of May 7-8, which will see the top four teams host the next four.

The four winners from that weekend will meet in Edmond May 15-17 in a double-elimination event to decide the champion, who earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II national tournament.

The Bronchos have won three MIAA regular season titles since joining the league in 2013 ('13, '17 and '19). There was no champion in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic forced an early cancelation to the season.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO is 16-0 at Broncho Stadium this season and has won 19 straight home games dating back to last year.

The Bronchos swept a home doubleheader from Nebraska-Kearney last week in their only action, claiming a 3-2 first-game win on Brighton Gilbert's game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh before taking the nightcap 5-2.

UCO has featured a balanced offensive attack all season, with eight players hitting between .304 and .354. Nine players have at least 15 runs batted in and eight have five or more doubles.

The Bronchos are batting .302 as a team – third-best in the MIAA – while averaging 8.2 hits and 6.0 runs a game.

Hazel Puempel leads the way with a .354 average that includes eight doubles, five home runs, three triples and 21 RBI. Taylor McKittrick is hitting .343 with nine doubles.

Shayla Harper has clouted a league-high 14 homers to go along with a .337 average and 32 RBI. Jacee Minter ranks fourth with 10 homers and is batting .337 with 28 RBI.

Allie Eicher (.316, nine doubles), Tarin Dubler (.310, six doubles) and Amelya Huggins (.304, five doubles) are also over the .300 mark.

Central ranks fifth in the league in team earned run average at 2.65 while giving up 6.6 hits and 2.9 runs a game. Opponents are hitting .253 against the Bronchos.

Corrina Rivas and Kylee Lynch have handled most of the load in the circle, having combined for 36 starts, 18 complete games and 27 wins.

Rivas is 13-5 with a 2.17 ERA in 22 appearances, including 17 starts. The junior right-hander has thrown nine complete games and opponents are batting .242 against her.

Lynch has a 14-3 record with a 3.17 ERA, also in 22 games. The freshman left-hander has tossed nine complete games and has issued just 21 walks in 103 2/3 innings.

ABOUT THE LOPERS: UNK ranks seventh in the MIAA in team batting average at .292 and is 12th in team ERA at 5.42.

The Lopers -- averaging 8.0 hits and 4.6 runs per contest -- are led by a trio of .350-plus hitters.

Abbie Jo Gambe paces the team with a .379 average, while Carlee Leisch is at .370 and Abbie Vodicka is hitting .352 with 16 doubles and 23 RBI.

UNK gives up 9.6 hits and 6.4 runs a game.

The two main pitchers are Kelsey Goodban (8-4, 4.72 ERA, 55 strikeouts) and Melissa Gellerman (3-7, 4.64 ERA).

UCO owns an 18-9 lead in a series that started in 1985, including a 12-2 margin since becoming MIAA rivals.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: FHSU takes a three-game winning streak into a doubleheader at Newman Friday before visiting the Bronchos.

The Tigers rank 12th in the MIAA in team batting average at .269 and are second in team ERA at 2.37.

FHSU averages 7.2 hits and 3.4 runs a game, while giving up 6.5 hits and 3.0 runs per contest.

Offensively, the Tigers are led by Sara Breckbill (.342, nine doubles, 22 RBI), Grace Philop (.324, 14 RBI) and Lauren Beggs (.305, five homers, 22 RBI).

FHSU's stout pitching staff is spearheaded by Michaelann Nelson (10-10, 1.95 ERA, 113 strikeouts) and Hailey Chapman (11-7, 2.65 ERA, 85 strikeouts).

UCO and the Tigers first met in 1978 and the Bronchos have a 19-9 lead in the series, including an 11-4 advantage in MIAA play.

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Players Mentioned

#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

#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

#5 Brighton Gilbert
: 5' 5"; 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