Softball 3/27/2023 8:29:00 AM

No. 4 Bronchos Host SNU Tuesday

No. 4-ranked Central Oklahoma makes its first home appearance in nearly a month Tuesday when the Bronchos host near-by Southern Nazarene for a 5 p.m. non-conference doubleheader at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

UCO, 23-4 on the season and 7-1 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action, hasn't played at home since a March 1 sweep of Northwestern Oklahoma. The Bronchos went 14-1 in an extended road swing and have won 17 of their last 18 games.

The Crimson Storm of the Great American Conference are 17-16 on the year.

"We're really looking forward to finally being at home and playing in front of our fans," head coach Cody White said. "Being on the road can help a team come together and I think this bunch has done that. We've played well the last few weeks and want to keep it going."

UCO hits the road again Friday, returning to league play with a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Newman. The Bronchos play 12 of their last 18 regular-season games at home.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO had a 16-game winning streak stopped and suffered its first conference loss last Saturday with a 4-3 first-game setback at Missouri Western. The Bronchos rallied for a 7-3 win in the nightcap, scoring five seventh-inning runs – all with two outs -- behind home runs by Shayla Harper and Tatum Long.

Harper has reached base in 22 straight games and the senior third baseman has taken over the team batting lead with her recent hot streak. She's batting .410 with six homers, four doubles, two triples and 25 runs batted in.

Harper also leads the Bronchos in slugging percentage (.744) and on-base percentage (.500).

Four other players are hitting over .300 – Emily Deramus (.392), Rylee Lemos (.365), Jacee Minter (.354) and Terin Ritz (.309).

Deramus tops the squad in doubles (12) and RBI (29) while sharing the homer leader (six). The freshman slugger is hitting a sizzling .486 (18-for-37) with runners in scoring position.

Lemos has eight doubles, 14 RBI and a team-best nine stolen bases. Minter shares the team lead in homers (six) to go with six doubles, 23 RBI and a team-high 18 walks, while Ritz has five doubles, five homers and 22 RBI.

Ritz is also one of UCO's top pitchers, carrying a 7-0 record with two saves. The sophomore right-hander has a 3.69 earned run average and has walked just 11 batters in 60 2/3 innings.

Jordyn Pipkin has thrown a team-high 71.0 innings and is 9-2 with a 2.37 ERA. Opponents are batting just .243 against the sophomore right-hander.

ABOUT THE CRIMSON STORM: Southern Nazarene is 6-10 in GAC play and lost two of three games over the weekend.

Five players are hitting .300 or better, led by Liana Heshiki (.425, 14 doubles) and Hailey Evans (.346, eight homers, 31 RBI).

Maddie Southerland paces the pitching staff with a 5.1 record and 3.23 ERA, while Olivia Hernandez is 5-4 with a 3.32 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#11 Shayla Harper: IF; 5' 7"; 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

#24 Tatum Long: IF; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

#24 Tatum Long
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: IF