Softball 3/7/2024 7:33:00 PM

Bronchos Open MIAA Play With Two Home Doubleheaders

No. 12-ranked Central Oklahoma opens its bid for a repeat Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship this weekend when the Bronchos host a pair of doubleheaders.

UCO, 12-6 and riding a five-game winning streak, takes on Washburn (19-5) Friday before meeting Emporia State (15-6) Saturday. Game time both days is 1 p.m. at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

"It's a huge weekend for us," head coach Cody White said. "Washburn and Emporia are both playing really well, so it will be a tremendous challenge for us. There are a lot of great teams in the conference and we want to get off to a good start.

"I'm happy with the progress we've made the last couple of weeks. We just need to keep focusing on getting a little better every day and see where that leads us."

The Bronchos went 23-3 in league play last year to capture their fifth MIAA title since joining the conference in 2013.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO went 5-1 last week, splitting a road doubleheader with Southern Nazarene before sweeping four games at the Drury Classic.

Junior pitcher/first baseman Terin Ritz led the Bronchos and was named MIAA Hitter of the Week after batting .444 (8-for-18) with two doubles, two home runs, one triple and nine runs batted in.

Ritz also went 3-0 with an 0.90 earned run average in the circle. She gave up just two earned runs in 20 innings while striking out nine and walking two as opponents batted .197 against her.

The returning All-American is 6-2 on the season with a 1.62 ERA in 10 appearances with nine starts. She's walked a mere four batters in 47.2 innings and has fanned 25. Ritz is also hitting .354 with five doubles, five homers and 20 RBI.

Four other regulars are batting above .330 – senior outfield Jacee Minter (.423), sophomore second baseman Rylee Anglen (.378), junior third baseman McKenna Johnson (.357) and sophomore outfielder Rylee Lemos (.339).

Minter tops the team in hits (22), homers (eight), RBI (27) and slugging percentage (.962) to go along with four doubles. The senior standout has moved into a tie for third on UCO's career homer list with 42 while also ranking fourth in doubles (54) and RBI (182), sixth in runs (156), eighth in hits (221) and 10th in at bats (599).

Anglen has three doubles, while Johnson has four doubles and 13 RBI. Lemos has four doubles, four homers and 13 RBI from her lead-off spot in the lineup to go along with a team-high 11 stolen bases.

ABOUT WASHBURN: The Ichabods have won six of seven games entering Saturday's twinbill.

Washburn is second in the league with a .353 team average and scores 6.6 runs a game. The Ichabods also boast the MIAA's top pitching staff with a 1.18 team ERA and is allowing just 1.4 runs a game, having thrown eight shutouts.

Jaycee Ginter is a dual threat for Washburn. She's hitting .548 with seven doubles, three homers and 22 RBI while carrying a 9-2 record and 1.87 ERA with 70 strikeouts in the circle.

Hailey Neira is hitting .436 and Kaylee Wagner .408 with six doubles and 20 RBI. Sadie Walker is 10-3 with an 0.65 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 75.1 innings.

UCO owns a 30-18 lead in the series and has won the last seven meetings between the two.

ABOUT EMPORIA STATE: The Hornets started the season 1-6, but take a 14-game winning streak into Saturday's doubleheader at Newman Saturday before taking on UCO.

ESU scores 6.9 runs a game behind a .333 team average. The Hornets allow 3.8 runs a contest with a 3.35 team ERA.

Alexis Deal paces the offense with a .515 average that includes eight doubles, four homers, two triples, 31 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Lexi Williams is hitting .438 with 12 steals and Abby Ward .369 with seven doubles and 14 steals.

Five pitchers have started at least one game for Emporia. Gracie Park is 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 38 innings to lead the way, while Jordan Harrison is 4-1 with a 4.64 ERA.

The Bronchos have won the last five meetings with ESU and has a 44-30 lead in the series.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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