Weekend Changes For UCO Softball

Anticipated cold weather in Joplin, Mo. for this weekend has dramatically changed Central Oklahoma's softball schedule, with the Bronchos now set to play one neutral-site doubleheader instead of six games.

UCO, 18-3 on the season and riding a 12-game winning streak, was set to play six games against four Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents over a three-day span in Joplin. Instead the Bronchos will meet Northern State of the NSIC in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday in Tahlequah on the Northeastern State campus.

"We scrambled around and found a couple of games for this weekend and we're thankful for that," head coach Cody White said. "Hopefully we can find a way to pick up the other four games we lost."

UCO is in the midst of a 19-game road-swing, which continues next weekend with back-to-back MIAA doubleheaders at Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western.

The Bronchos don't play at home again until hosting Southern Nazarene in a non-conference doubleheader on March 28.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO's offense has sparked the current winning streak, with the Bronchos hitting. 350 as a team over the past 12 games.

Freshman Emily Deramus is batting a torrid .511 in that span with eight doubles, three home runs, two triples and 12 runs batted in. Junior Jacee Minter (.432, four homers, 12 RBI) and freshman Rylee Lemos (.413, five doubles) have also been hot at the plate.

UCO has a .326 average for the season and that same trio leads the way.

Deramus leads the team in average (.427), doubles (nine), homers (six) and RBI (25) while sharing the triples lead (two).

Lemos is batting .405 with six doubles, two triples, 12 RBI and a team-high seven stolen bases, while Minter is at .379 with six doubles, five homers and 20 RBI.

Two other players are above .300 for the season – seniors Shayla Harper (.356, 13 RBI) and Amelya Huggins (.309, 19 RBI).

Three pitchers have handled all the duties in the circle, with sophomore Jordyn Pipkin leading that group. She's 7-1 with a 2.56 earned run average and 30 strikeouts in 54.2 innings.

Sophomore Terin Ritz is 5-0 with a 4.26 ERA and just 10 walks in 46.0 innings, while Corrina Rivas is 6-2 with two saves and a 4.45 ERA in 39.1 innings.

UCO opened league play last weekend with doubleheader road sweeps of Emporia State and No. 18 Washburn.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#5 Emily Deramus: IF; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

#8 Rylee Lemos: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; L/R

#15 Jordyn Pipkin: P; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#5 Emily Deramus
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: IF

#8 Rylee Lemos
: 5' 6"; Freshman; L/R
: OF

#15 Jordyn Pipkin
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: P