Bronchos Host Key MIAA Games On Final Weekend

No. 5-ranked Central Oklahoma wraps up the regular season this weekend with a couple of huge Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheaders at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

The Bronchos, 39-6 on the season and 19-3 in conference play, are tied for the league lead with Missouri Southern going into the final weekend. UCO hosts Pittsburg State (26-18, 11-11) at 1 p.m. Saturday before taking on the Lions (34-9, 19-3) at the same time Sunday.

"It's obviously a big, big weekend for us," head coach Cody White said. "Two tough opponents and there's a lot on the line. We're going to have to play extremely well both days, but this is what we've been working for.

"You want to be in this situation and our girls are excited about the opportunity. It should be a fun weekend."

The Bronchos start postseason action next week, traveling to Topeka, Kan. for the MIAA Tournament that runs Wednesday-Saturday. Eight teams qualify for that double-elimination event, with the winner earning the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II national tournament.

The full 64-team NCAA bracket -- with eight teams in each of eight regions -- will be announced May 9.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO enters the final weekend riding an eight-game winning streak. The Bronchos went 6-0 last week, sweeping a road doubleheader from Southeastern Oklahoma before downing Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State on back-to-back days at home.

Central needs one win to reach the 40-win mark for the 10th time in school history, including the seventh under 10th-year head coach Cody White.

The Bronchos boast NCAA Division II's best defense with a .981 fielding percentage and rank in the top five in the five other team categories – sixth in sacrifice flies (22), eighth in doubles per game (1.91), eighth in walks (178), eighth in winning percentage (.867) and ninth in runs per game (7.33).

UCO has a .333 team batting average, with six regulars at .318 or better to lead a balanced offensive attack.

Senior Shayla Harper leads the way at .412 and also tops the team in runs (45), home runs (11), runs batted in (45), slugging percentage (.743) and on-base percentage (.478). She ranks in the top 10 in four career categories at UCO – fourth in homers (36) and triples (12), eighth in runs (133) and 10th in RBI (130).

Two other players have 40-plus RBI – sophomore Terin Ritz (41) and freshman Emily Deramus (40). Deramus is batting .376 with 15 doubles and nine homers, while Ritz is at .369 with nine homers.

Junior Jacee Minter has a .364 average with 10 doubles, nine homers and 37 RBI. The returning All-American ranks among UCO's all-time leaders in four categories – fourth in doubles (46), sixth in homers (33) and RBI (145) and ninth in runs (130).

Freshman Rylee Lemos is batting .325 with a team-high 13 stolen bases and senior Amelya Huggins is at .318 with 12 doubles and 28 RBI. Huggins has moved into ninth place on the all-time doubles list with 39 and has 100 career walks, needing six to break that school record.

Ritz and fellow sophomore Jordyn Pipkin form a dynamic duo in the pitching circle for the Bronchos, having combined for a 32-4 record.

Pipkin is 17-3 with a 1.81 earned run average in 127.1 innings, while Ritz is 15-1 with a 2.32 ERA. Pipkin has 12 compete games, with opponents batting .217 against her. Ritz has walked just 17 batters in 114.2 innings.

ABOUT THE GORILLAS: Pittsburg State enters the final weekend tied for seventh in the league standings at 11-11, with the top eight teams advancing to next week's MIAA Postseason Tournament in Topeka, Kan.

The Gorillas have the third-best team average in the conference at .311 in averaging 8.5 hits and 5.1 runs a game. PSU gives up 6.9 hits and 3.3 runs behind a 3.12 team ERA.

Taylor Lambert tops the offense with a .397 average and 15 stolen bases, while Heather Arnett is at .380 with 24 steals. Paxtyn Hayes is hitting .361 with 15 doubles, 12 homers and an MIAA-best 57 RBI.

Hannah Harrison is 13-8 with a 2.21 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 136 innings to lead the pitching staff. Lilli Weir has an 8-5 record and 3.98 ERA in 89.2 innings.

UCO has a narrow 23-19 lead in a series that started in 1983.

ABOUT THE LIONS: Missouri Southern enters the final weekend tied for the lead with UCO after being picked fifth in the preseason poll and plays at Newman Friday before coming to Edmond.

The Lions are second in team hitting in the MIAA at .316 in averaging 8.6 hits and 6.2 runs a contest. MSSU has a 2.67 team ERA while giving up 6.7 hits and 3.3 runs a game.

Yazmin Vargas is one of two batters over .400, carrying a .422 average with 28 stolen bases. Leighton Withers is at .410 with 1 doubles, 10 homers and 43 RBI, while Josie Tofpi is hitting .339 with five homers and 32 RBI.

Avery Tallman tops the pitchers with a 15-2 record and 2.20 ERA in 101.2 innings. Bailey Lacy is 11-1 with an 2.08 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 91 innings.

The Bronchos own a 33-7 advantage in a series that started in 1985.

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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