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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

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Shayla Harper
Shayla Harper
10
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 19-3
2
Northern State NS 6-12
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
19-3
10
Final
2
Northern State NS
6-12
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 2 2 0 0 4 0 2 10 11 0
Northern State NS 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 2

W: Rivas, Corrina (7-2) L: Chase, L. (3-4) S: Ritz, Terin (2)

1
Northern State NS 6-13
13
Winner Central Okla. UCO 20-3
Northern State NS
6-13
1
Final
13
Central Okla. UCO
20-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Northern State NS 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 2
Central Okla. UCO 4 5 3 1 X 13 14 0

W: Pipkin, Jordyn (8-1) L: Rux, Abby (1-5)

Game Recap: Softball |

Harper Homers Fuel UCO Sweep

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (March 18) – Shayla Harper slugged three home runs and drove in eight runs as No. 6-ranked Central Oklahoma overwhelmed Northern State in a neutral-site doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

Harper had a two-run blast in a 10-2 first-game rout, then belted two more – including a grand slam – in a 13-1 run-rule romp in the nightcap. The Bronchos finished with six homers on the day in stretching their winning streak to 14 in a row while improving to 20-3 on the season.

"Our offense was really good today," head coach Cody White said. "We swung the bats well up and down the lineup and our pitchers also did a great job. I'm glad we were able to get a couple of games this weekend to keep up the momentum we've built the last few weeks."
 
UCO was scheduled to play six games against four Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents Friday-Sunday at the MIAA/NSIC Crossover Challenge in Joplin, Mo. Cold weather forced the cancellation of that event, but the Bronchos were able to pick up two games against the Wolves at Northeastern State.

Harper, Jacee Minter and Tatum Long all had two-run homers in the opening-game drubbing.

The Bronchos broke on top 2-0 in the first when Amelya Huggins drew a two-out walk and Minter followed with her sixth homer of the season. Mikayla Rutland's two-run double to center field made it 4-0 in the second.

NSU scored single runs in the second and third to get within 4-2, but the Bronchos answered with four runs in the fifth to regain control.

Minter led off the inning with a single through the left side and Harper promptly planted a long fly ball over the left field wall. Terin Ritz then doubled and Long's two-run drive down the left field line upped UCO's lead to 8-2.

The Bronchos added two more runs in the top of the seventh, scoring one on an error and the second on Huggins' bases-loaded walk.
 
Harp, Minter, Ritz and Rutland had two hits apiece to lead an 11-hit attack and UCO also benefitted from seven walks.
 
Corrina Rivas picked up the pitching win, giving up four hits and two runs with four strikeouts in the first four innings. Ritz pitched three innings of no-hit relief to earn the save.
 
The Bronchos didn't waste time seizing command in the nightcap.
 
Emily Deramus reached on a one-out error, then Huggins and Minter had back-to-back infield singles to load the bases for Harper. The senior slugger promptly emptied them with a long drive to left-center for the grand slam.
 
UCO added five more in the second to make it a 9-0 cushion.
 
Rutland drew a lead-off walk, Rylee Lemos singled up the middle and Deramus drove a double down the right field line that plated Rutland and resulted in Lemos being thrown out at the plate.
 
Huggins drove in Deramus with a single to left-center, then Harper homered for the second straight inning. Ritz and Layne Smith drew consecutive walks before Rutland ended the scoring with an RBI single through the left side.
 
The onslaught continued in the third. Shaylin Midgley had a two-out pinch-hit RBI single and Brooke Niver followed with a pinch-hit two-run homer to push the lead to 12-0.
 
NSU scored its lone run in the top of the fourth, but the Bronchos got that back in their half of the inning when Rylee Anglen led off with a single and ended up scoring on an error
 
Deramus' 3-for-4 outing at the plate led a 14-hit assault, with Huggins and Harper adding two hits apiece.
 
Jordyn Pipkin earned the pitching win, giving up three hits and one run while striking out four in five innings. The sophomore right-hander improved to 8-1 with her sixth complete-game outing.
 
UCO returns to conference play and finishes up a lengthy road-swing next weekend, traveling to Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western for back-to-back doubleheaders.
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