Bronchos Split With Tigers

Central Oklahoma Picks Up 7-0 Game 1 Win Before Falling 2-1 In Extra Innings In Game 2

HAYS, Kan. – Jacee Minter and Terin Ritz sparked a first-game rout before errors led to a second-game upset as No. 6-ranked Central Oklahoma split a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheader with Fort Hays State Friday afternoon.

Minter went 3-for-4 while driving in four runs and Ritz pitched a complete-game two-hitter in a 7-0 shutout to open the day, but the Tigers took the nightcap 2-1 by scoring unearned runs in the sixth and eighth innings.

The Bronchos had an eight-game winning streak snapped with the second-game loss, falling to 38-8 overall and 18-2 in the league. UCO moves on to Kearney, Neb. Saturday to take on Nebraska-Kearney in a 12 p.m. twinbill.

"We didn't play well enough to win the second game," head coach Cody White said. "Our pitching was good, but offensively we never got anything going and our defense let us down a couple of times.

"It was a tough loss. We just have to put it behind us and get ready for tomorrow. There are no givens in this conference, especially on the road."

The Bronchos cruised in the opener, banging out 11 hits behind Minter's outburst.

UCO took control early, going up 3-0 in the top of the first as Minter had a run-scoring single and Shayleigh Odom a two-RBI base hit. Minter added another RBI single in the fifth to make up 4-0.

Minter continued her big day in the seventh with a two-run double to left-center field and McKenna Johnson followed with an RBI single to complete the scoring.

Minter's 3-for-4 showing led the offense, while Johnson, Emily Deramus and Rylee Anglen had two hits apiece.

Ritz was masterful in the circle once again in notching her 13th complete game and fifth shutout. The junior standout struck out five and didn't walk a batter while giving up just two hits in moving to 19-3 on the season.

UCO managed just four hits in the second game that was scoreless until the Bronchos finally broke through in the sixth when Deramus drew a one-out walk and Minter came through with a two-out RBI double to left-center.

But FHSU scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to tie it and then took advantage of another UCO miscue in the eighth in pushing across the winning run.

Shelby Beard started in the circle and gave up five hits and an unearned run in the first five innings before Ritz came on in the bottom of the sixth. She went the final 2.1 innings in taking the loss.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#11 Shelby Beard: P; 5' 9"; Freshman; 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

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

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

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

#11 Shelby Beard
: 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R
: P

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