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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

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Terin Ritz
Terin Ritz
1
Central Oklahoma UCO 47-11
3
Winner Augustana AUGIE 50-9
Central Oklahoma UCO
47-11
1
Final
3
Augustana AUGIE
50-9
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
Augustana AUGIE 0 1 0 0 2 0 X 3 6 2

W: Mickschl, Ashley (24-2) L: Lynch, Kylee (25-4)

3
Augustana AUGIE 50-10
4
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 48-11
Augustana AUGIE
50-10
3
Final
4
Central Oklahoma UCO
48-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Augustana AUGIE 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 12 0
Central Oklahoma UCO 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 4 7 2

W: Lynch, Kylee (26-4) L: Mickschl, Ashley (23-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Ritz Walk-off Gives UCO Regional II Title

EDMOND (May 14) – The 'Chos are moving on!
 
Terin Ritz delivered run-scoring hits in the sixth and eighth innings – both on full-count pitches with two outs – and No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma clipped No. 9 Augustana 4-3 in the championship game of the NCAA Division II Central Regional II Tournament Saturday afternoon at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

Ritz's walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth ended the tense, back-and-forth battle between the two perennial powers and pushed the Bronchos (48-11) into next week's Central Super Regional Finals against Rogers State. That best-of-three series will be held Thursday and Friday in Claremore, with the winner advancing to the Division II World Series.

"This group just keeps getting it done," an ecstatic head coach Cody White said. "They battled and scratched for everything they got. Augie has a great team and it was a struggle, but we found a way."

Ritz gave the Bronchos a 3-2 lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Augie came through with three consecutive two-out singles in the top of the seventh to tie it and force the game into extra innings.

Kylee Lynch – who came on in relief of starter Bailey McKittrick in the sixth – put the Vikings down in order in the top of the eighth to set the stage for the dramatic finish.

Tarin Dubler led off the inning with an infield single and Amelya Huggins had a one-out single to right field before both advanced on Korbyn Skipworth's groundout. Ritz then ended it, slapping a full-count base hit through the middle to send a delirious Dubler home with the winning run.

"Terin came through with two huge base hits for us," White said. "The moment wasn't too big for her. She stayed poised and did her job."

Augie beat the Bronchos 3-1 to open the day and force the "if necessary" game. Lynch went the distance in that game after throwing 155 pitches in UCO's 3-0 extra-inning win over the Vikings Friday, so McKittrick got the start in the tournament finale.
 
The senior right-hander – making just her fifth start of the season -- gave the Bronchos 5 1/3 gritty innings, limiting the potent Vikings to two runs (one earned). Lynch allowed one run in the going 2 2/3 innings to pick up the win, improving to 26-4.

"Bailey did a great job," White said. "She kept them off-balance and her getting to the sixth inning was huge. We were able to rest Kylee some, then she was able to come in and finish it off."

The Vikings scored an unearned run in the top of the first to take a quick lead, but UCO answered in its first at bat. Brighton Gilbert laced a one-out single to left field, went to second on Dubler's walk and took third on Jacee Minter's long fly out before scoring on a wild pitch to tie it.

Augie went back in front 2-1 in the second and the Bronchos pulled even again in the fourth, with Ritz again making a big play. The freshman designated player reached base on a fielder's choice that resulted in the second out, then chugged her way around to score when Lexy Dobson roped a double down the left field line.

The Vikings threatened the break the deadlock in the top of the sixth after loading the bases with one out, but Lynch induced a pinch-hitter into an inning-ending double play.

UCO went in front in the bottom half of that inning when Ritz ripped a two-out double off the wall in right-center field to score Minter, who led off the inning with a walk.

Augie forced extra innings with its seventh-inning heroics, but the Bronchos weren't to be denied on this day.
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