No. 4 UCO Hits The Road

No. 4-ranked Central Oklahoma starts an eight-game road-swing to end the regular season this weekend when the Bronchos head north for a pair of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheaders.

UCO, 38-6 on the season and atop the league standings at 17-1, are in Kearney, Neb. Friday to meet Nebraska-Kearney (22-18, 12-6) before moving on to Hays, Kan. Saturday to take on Fort Hays State (22-33-1, 8-10). Both twinbills are set for 12 p.m. starts.

"It's another big weekend for us," head coach Cody White said. "We've played well the last few weeks, but this another challenge. It's always tough going on the road in this conference, so we just have to stay focused on ourselves and try to play our best."

The Bronchos, looking for their third straight league title, finish the regular season next weekend with doubleheaders at Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. UCO will host the eight-team MIAA Softball Championship May 4-7 at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO jumped from No. 10 to No. 4 in the national poll this week after sweeping previous No. 2 Rogers State (6-2, 1-0) last weekend in taking over the MIAA lead. The Bronchos were also ranked No. 1 in the first NCAA Division II Central Regional rankings that came out earlier this week.

Central, riding an 11-game winning streak, needs two more victories to reach the 40-win mark for the ninth time in school history. Ninth-year head coach Cody White has led the Bronchos to five 40-win seasons.

Defense has been a key component of UCO's success in 2022. The Bronchos have had 28 error-less games, have committed just 22 miscues for the season and currently lead Division II in fielding percentage (.982) while ranking sixth in double plays (22).

UCO is hitting .342 as a team while averaging 8.8 hits and 7.1 runs per game. The Bronchos rank in the top 10 nationally in three offensive categories – seventh in on-base percentage (.433), ninth in walks (160) and 10th in runs scored (314).

Five players are hitting at least .340 – Jacee Minter (.426), Amelya Huggins (.388), Shayla Harper (.358), Lexy Dobson (.344) and Shayleigh Odom (.340).

Minter has been one of Division II's leading power hitters all season. She ranks third nationally in doubles (19) and eighth in runs batted in (51) while having also belted a team-high nine home runs.

The sophomore standout is tied for fourth on UCO's single-season list for doubles, needing just five more to break the record of 24 set by JoBi Heath in 2019.

Huggins also has 10 doubles, eight homers and 33 RBIs. She has drawn a single-season school record 38 walks and ranks sixth nationally in walks per game (0.86).

Harper has eight homers, seven triples six doubles and 43 RBIs for the season. The junior ranks seventh nationally in triples, which is tied for second on UCO's single-season list.

Dobson continues to move up several career charts at UCO. The senior is now fifth in at bats (708), sixth in hits (237), runs scored (134) and games played (229) and seventh in doubles (42).

The Bronchos have also been strong in the circle. UCO has a 2.19 team earned run average while giving up 2.4 runs and 5.4 hits a game and rank seventh nationally with 13 shutouts.

Kylee Lynch continues to be the team's workhorse. The sophomore star is 19-1 with three saves and a 1.47 ERA, having given up just 19 walks in 142 2/3 innings while throwing 17 complete games.

Opponents are hitting just .196 against Lynch, who has allowed just two runs (one earned) in her last 34 innings. She ranks sixth nationally in wins and is already ninth in career wins at UCO with 44.

Bailey McKittrick pitched four shutout innings in just her second start of the season last Saturday to gain the win against No. 2 Rogers State. The senior is 4-0 with one save and an 0.81 ERA, having allowed only three runs (all earned) in 26 innings.

Isie Cox solidifies the pitching staff. The sophomore is 9-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 21 games with 13 starts.

ABOUT THE LOPERS: Nebraska-Kearney, which is fourth in the league standings, has a .275 team average while scoring 5.0 runs a game. The Lopers give up 7.2 hits and 4.1 runs a game.

Carlee Liesch (.337, 19 RBIs) and Sydney Thomason (.353, nine doubles, 35 RBIs) lead the offense. Kelsey Goodban is the top pitcher with an 8-6 record and 2.90 ERA.

UCO and UNK first met in 1985 and the Bronchos have a 19-10 lead in the series, having won nine of the last 10 meetings. UCO has won 13 of 16 meetings as MIAA rivals.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Fort Hays State is ninth in the conference standings and averages 4.6 runs a game while hitting .282. The Tigers allow 7.8 hits and 4.6 runs per contest.

Sarah Tiffany (.347, 10 doubles, 27 RBIs) and Loren Beggs (.336, 13 doubles, 22 RBIs) pace the offense. Morgan Schmidt (8-3, 4.52 ERA) leads the pitching staff.

UCO has a 21-9 lead in a series that started in 1978 and has won 10 of the last 11 meetings. The Bronchos own a 13-4 advantage since joining the MIAA.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

#27 Bailey McKittrick: P; 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R

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

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

#14 Isie Cox: P/UT; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/L

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#27 Bailey McKittrick
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

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

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

#14 Isie Cox
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/L
: P/UT

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

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

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