Lemos Sparks Bronchos To Sweep

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (March 2) – Rylee Lemos came through with a clutch three-run triple in the top of the sixth inning and then stole home to propel Central Oklahoma past host Drury 5-3 Saturday afternoon in the final game of the Drury Classic.

Lemos belted a two-run homer as the 12th-ranked Bronchos opened the day with a 6-1 triumph over Minnesota-Duluth before her late-game heroics completed UCO's four-game sweep in the two-day event.

"We faced good pitchers in both games and really had to work for everything we got," head coach Cody White said. "Rylee came through with some big hits for us and we got out of here with two good wins.

"It was a good weekend for us. We played pretty well overall and did what we needed to do, but now it's time to get ready for the conference."

The Bronchos -- now 12-6 on the season -- return home to open defense of their Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title next weekend, hosting Washburn Friday and Emporia State Saturday for back-to-back doubleheaders.

Terin Ritz had a stellar pitching outing in the opener against UMD in improving to 6-2 on the season. The junior right-hander gave up just two hits and one unearned run while striking out six.

Ritz helped her our cause in the top of the fourth when she led off with her fifth homer of the season, but the Bulldogs came back with their lone score in the bottom of the frame to tie it.

UCO broke the deadlock in the sixth with a trio of runs. Jacee Minter and McKenna Johnson came through with back-to-back RBI hits and Tatum Long delivered a sacrifice fly to put the Bronchos on top 4-1.

Lemos made it 6-1 in the seventh when she followed Rylee Anglen's lead-off single with her fourth homer of the year.

Anglen went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead an eight-hit attack.

The Bronchos broke on top 1-0 in the top of the first against Drury on Long's two-out RBI single, but the Panthers came back with two runs in the third and one in the fifth to grab a 3-1 lead.

UCO rallied in the sixth, with Lemos leading the charge.

Long singled, Shayleigh Odom walked and Anglen reached on an error to load the bases for Lemos, who promptly cleared them with her first triple of the season. The speedy sophomore then swiped home to make it 5-3 and the Bronchos held on to complete the weekend sweep.

Jordyn Pipkin earned the pitching win in relief. She came on in the third and allowed three hits and one unearned run in the final 4 2/3 innings.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#6 Shayleigh Odom: OF; 5' 1"; Senior; L/R

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#6 Shayleigh Odom
: 5' 1"; Senior; L/R
: OF

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

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

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