UCO Opens Broncho Invitational Friday

No. 16-ranked Central Oklahoma is back at Gerry Pinkston Stadium this weekend to host five games in the Broncho Invitational.

The Bronchos, 7-2 on the season, open the four-day event Friday with games against Oklahoma Baptist at 3 p.m. and Chadron State at 5:15. UCO returns Saturday to face Harding, takes on Arkansas Tech on Sunday and finishes Monday against East Central.

The event was originally scheduled for Thursday-Sunday, but was pushed back a day due to poor weather conditions expected on Thursday.

"We played pretty well last weekend and want to build on that," said head coach Cody White, whose team went 4-0 in the UCO Festival that ended Sunday. "We're going to play some good teams in the next few days and need to be prepared."

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO is riding a five-game winning streak after taking down Midwestern State (9-0), Southern Nazarene (3-1), Cameron (8-3) and Southwestern Oklahoma (8-0) last weekend in the first home games of the 2022 campaign.

The Bronchos swept Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association player of the week honors, with Jacee Minter named the top hitter and Kylee Lynch selected the best pitcher.

Minter hit a sizzling .643 (9-for-14) with three doubles, a triple and seven runs batted in. Lynch went 3-0 with an 0.50 earned run average, allowing just seven hits in 18 innings pitched.

Central is batting .328 for the season while averaging 6.9 runs and 8.3 hits per game.

Four players are hitting .370 or better, led by Minter's .483 average. The sophomore outfielder has four doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI with an .897 slugging percentage.

Sophomore outfielder Shayleigh Odom is batting .429 with two homers and 15 RBI, while junior catcher Amelya Huggins is at .400 and senior shortstop Brighton Gilbert at .370.

Lynch tops the pitching staff with a 5-0 record and 2.41 ERA. The sophomore left-hander has struck out 17 and walked just seven in 33 2/3 innings, having tossed four complete games in six starts.

Freshman Terin Ritz is the only other pitcher to have seen significant time in the circle. She's 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA in four appearances.

ABOUT OBU: The Bison enter the weekend 6-3 on the young season. OBU is hitting .236 as a team while averaging 4.2 runs and 5.8 hits a game.

Sammie Greene (.409) and Reagan Ford (.333) lead the offense. Kayleigh Jones is 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings to lead the pitchers.

UCO and OBU first met back in 1975 and the Bronchos own a 47-33 lead in the series, having won the last seven meetings.

ABOUT CHADRON: The Eagles are 0-5 after opening the season last weekend. Chadron is hitting .205 while averaging 2.0 runs and 4.1 hits per contest.

Lauren Zimmerman (.385) and Jessie Henchenski (.333) spark the offense.

The two teams have met just twice, with the Eagles winning in 2020 and UCO last year.

ABOUT HARDING: The Bisons bring an 8-2 record and five-game winning streak to Edmond. OBU averages 6.4 runs and 9.2 hits a game while batting .312 as a team.

Nicole Shano (.459, five homers, 14 RBI) and Madison Fraley (.375) lead the offense. Lily Tanski tops the pitchers with a 5-1 record and 2.46 ERA.

Sunday's game will be the first-ever meeting between UCO and HU.

ABOUT ATU: The Golden Suns enter the weekend 6-4. ATU has a team batting average of .309 while averaging 6.6 runs and 7.7 hits per game.

Tymber Riley (.536, nine doubles, 10 RBI) and Caitlyn Wells (.464, five homers, 17 RBI) highlight the offensive attack. Bailey Buffington is 3-1 with an 0.47 ERA to lead the pitching staff.

UCO owns a 6-2 lead in the series and has won the last four meetings between the two.

ABOUT ECU: The Tigers were 2-5 prior to starting play in the tournament. ECU is hitting .318 as a team while averaging 3.7 runs and 7.7 hits a game.

Kenzie Lasker (.583) and Jayna Reid (.429) lead the offense.

Central has a big 44-24 lead in the rivalry and has won the last five games between the two.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#6 Shayleigh Odom: OF; 5' 1"; Sophomore; L/R

#99 Terin Ritz: P/1B; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#6 Shayleigh Odom
: 5' 1"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#99 Terin Ritz
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: P/1B