No. 11 UCO Travels To MIAA/NSIC Challenge

Central Oklahoma Plays Augustana, St. Cloud State, and Winona State In Kansas

PITTSBURG, Kan. – No. 11-ranked Central Oklahoma steps outside conference play this weekend for six games in the MIAA/NSIC Challenge at Pittsburg State's Gene Bicknell Sports Complex.

The Bronchos, 16-6 on the season and riding a nine-game winning streak, will play Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rivals Augustana, St. Cloud State and Winona State in consecutive doubleheaders. UCO takes on the Vikings (12-7) at 10 a.m. Friday, the Huskies (16-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday and the Warriors (16-4) at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

"We're going against three good teams this weekend," head coach Cody White said. "They're all big games since these are teams in our region that we need to do well against.

"I like the way we've been playing the last three weeks. We will need to play even better this weekend and the girls are ready for the challenge."

The Bronchos return home March 22 to open an eight-game homestand against Missouri Western.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS

UCO opened MIAA play last weekend with back-to-back doubleheader sweeps of Washburn and Emporia State. The Bronchos clipped the Ichabods 6-2 and 2-1 before cruising past the Hornets 6-0 and 10-1.

Sophomore shortstop Emily Deramus led the offense, batting .667 (8-for-12) with two home runs, a triple, seven runs batted in and two stolen bases to earn MIAA Hitter of the Week hoors. Junior catcher Layne Smith hit .600 (6-for-10) with a double.

Terin Ritz was 2-0 in the circle with a 1.59 earned run average to lead the pitching staff over the weekend.

UCO has a .318 team average with six regulars hitting over .300 – senior outfielder Jacee Minter (.387), sophomore outfielder Rylee Lemos (.370), Ritz (.367), Deramus (.353), sophomore second baseman Rylee Anglen (.341) and junior third baseman McKenna Johnson (.313).

Minter tops the team in homers (eight) and RBI (29), while Lemas leads the Bronchos in triples (four), steals (12) and has reached base in 22 consecutive games. Ritz is riding a 10-game hitting streak and has seven homers and 24 RBI for the year.

Deramus has a team-best seven doubles to go along with five homers and 17 RBI. Angen is hitting .471 (8-for-17) with two outs, while Johnson has five doubles and eight two-out RBI.

Ritz and junior Jordyn Pipkin have combined for 108 of UCO's 138 innings pitching in winning 14 games.

Ritz is 8-2 with a 1.54 on the season in 59 innings. The right-hander has walked just eight batters on the season and opponents are hitting .231.

Pipkin has a 6-3 record and 2.86 ERA in 49 innings. The right-hander has only 14 walks and opponents are batting .237.

ABOUT AUGUSTANA

The Vikings beat UCO 2-1 in the second game of the season on Feb. 2 in the Mardi Gras Invitational in Louisiana to take a 15-8 lead in the series.

Augie is second in the NSIC with a 1.98 team ERA and is batting 2.85.

Grace Glanzer leads the pitchers with a 5-2 record and miniscule 0.25 ERA. She's given up just 28 hits and six runs (two earned) in 55 innings with 58 strikeouts.

Liz Dierks (.385), Ashton Dorman (.364, five doubles) and Desi Cuevas (.356, three triples) lead the offense.

ABOUT ST. CLOUD STATE

The Huskies are batting .300 as a team with a 2.54 ERA.

Holly Weinberger is hitting .400 with six doubles and 20 RBI to pace the offense, with Reese Holzhueter at .380 with six homers, 16 RBI and seven stolen bases.

Justiyce Porter (6-2, 1.24 ERA) and Emma Eichoff (5-2, 2.48 ERA) are the top pitchers.

The teams have met just once before, with the Bronchos earning a 5-3 win back in 1993.

ABOUT WINONA STATE

The Warriors feature the best offense in the NSIC with a .364 team average.

Four players are hitting above .400, led by Abbie Hlas at .464 with 10 doubles and Sam Keller at .408 with seven doubles, four homers and 21 RBI.

WSU has a 4.07 team ERA. Izzy Howe and Abby Smith are both 6-2 to lead the pitching staff.

UCO owns a 6-1 lead in the series.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#9 Rylee Anglen: IF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R

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

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

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

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

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

#1 Layne Smith: C/UT; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#22 McKenna Johnson: IF; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#9 Rylee Anglen
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R
: IF

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

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

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

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

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

#1 Layne Smith
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: C/UT

#22 McKenna Johnson
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: IF