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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Kylee Lemos
Rylee Lemos
8
Winner Southern Arkansas SAUSB 44-14
2
Central Oklahoma UCO 50-7
Winner
Southern Arkansas SAUSB
44-14
8
Final
2
Central Oklahoma UCO
50-7
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southern Arkansas SAUSB 0 7 0 0 1 0 0 8 11 0
Central Oklahoma UCO 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 1

W: Sydney Ward (24-6) L: Ritz, Terin (24-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Bronchos Fall In Super Regional Opener

EDMOND (May 18) – It was an ideal first-inning start for Central Oklahoma in the NCAA Division II Super Regional opener against Southern Arkansas Thursday night.
 
And then came the top of the second.
 
The Bronchos jumped out to a 2-0 lead in their opening at bat, but the Muleriders stunned the overflow crowd at Gerry Pinkston Stadium by exploding for seven runs on eight hits in the top of the second on their way to an 8-2 victory.
 
UCO was held hitless in the final six innings and had a 19-game winning streak snapped in falling to 50-7. SAU improved to 45-14 with its 18th win in 19 games.
 
The two teams meet again at 2 p.m. Friday, with the Bronchos needing a win to force the "if necessary" game that would follow at 5 p.m. The winner joins seven other regional champions in the Division II Softball National Championship that will be held May 25-31 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
 
"It was tough," head coach Cody White said. "We came out and did exactly what we wanted to do in the bottom half of the first inning. We attacked them early and had a lot of momentum, but that left us pretty quick.

"We couldn't really regroup and that's something we have to be ready for tomorrow. We've got to keep attacking and be ready every single pitch. I have a lot of confidence in our team and I know our girls will come out ready to go."
 
The Bronchos opened the game in fine fashion.
 
Rylee Lemos led off the bottom of the first with an infield single and Emily Deramus – named a finalist for the Tucci/NFCA National Freshman of the Year earlier this week – followed with a run-scoring triple to right-center field. Jacee Minter's one-out single up the middle made it 2-0.
 
UCO had a chance to add to its lead after Shayla Harper and Terin Ritz drew consecutive walks to load the bases, but the Muleriders escaped further damage.
 
Starting pitcher Terin Ritz opened the second with a strikeout, then SAU had three straight bloop hits to score its first run before the Bronchos got another out. An infield single – with UCO nearly getting the inning-ending out at first – tied the game.
 
That opened the floodgates, with the Muleriders adding five more runs on four hits to push their advantage to 7-2. SAU scored its final run in the fifth and finished with 11 hits.
 
It was only the seventh time this season the Bronchos have allowed five or more runs in a game, including the first since March 12.
 
UCO's only baserunners in the final six innings came via walks, including Amelya Huggins' school career-record 106th walk in the fifth inning. But an offense that entered the game averaging nine hits and seven runs a game was silenced in the final six frames.
 
Ritz took the loss, just her second of the season, in falling to 24-2. Jordyn Pipkin pitched well in relief, giving up three hits and one run in the final five innings.
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