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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Shayleigh Odom
0
Washburn WU 37-16
3
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 43-12
Washburn WU
37-16
0
Final
3
Central Oklahoma UCO
43-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Washburn WU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Central Oklahoma UCO 3 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 5 0

W: Ritz, Terin (20-6) L: Walker,S. (20-9)

Game Recap: Softball |

Bronchos Blank Washburn To Open Regional

No. 12 UCO Beats Ichabods With First-inning Heroics

CLAREMORE, Okla. – A clutch defensive play, an epic at bat and another stellar pitching performance propelled Central Oklahoma past Washburn 3-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Division Central Regional Championship Thursday afternoon.

Left fielder Jacee Minter threw out a runner at the plate in the top of the first to prevent the Ichabods from taking a quick lead and the No. 12-ranked Bronchos scored the only runs of the game in the bottom of the frame.

Shayleigh Odom keyed that uprising, fouling off six-straight full-count pitches before lining a two-run single to make it 3-0. That was more than enough support for Terin Ritz, who threw a five-hitter for her sixth shutout of the season.
 
"You look at the first inning and that was the difference," said head coach Cody White, whose team improved to 43-12. "We came out and scored two runs, all with two outs. We had  lot of clutch performances in that inning.
 
"I truly think the energy really started with Jacee throwing the runner out at the plate. Layne (Smith) made a great tag and we definitely got going with that. It was a total team effort and a big win for us."
 
Erin Boles drew a walk to lead off the game for Washburn, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and tried to score on Jaycee Ginter's single to left field. But Minter had other plans.
 
The senior standout's throw to Smith was on target to nail Boles at the plate and UCO ended up escaping the inning with no damage.
 
A two-out, three-run rally followed in the bottom of the first and the Bronchos were on their way to Friday's 11 a.m. winners bracket finals against the Rogers State-Southern Nazarene winner.
 
The Bronchos opened with two quick outs before Ritz's blooper toward the right field line fell in for a double. Minter walked and then McKenna Johnson ripped a line-drive double to score Ritz and move Minter to third.
 
Next came Odom's tension-filled at bat. The senior centerfielder worked the count to 3-2, then fouled off six consecutive pitches before finally delivering a shot to center field for a two-run single.
 
"I just thought I've got a job to do so let's go do it," Odom said. "It was really exciting to have that opportunity and to come through for my team."
 
UCO didn't score again, but it didn't matter.
 
Washburn didn't threaten after the first inning until the sixth with consecutive one-out singles put runners on first and second. But Ritz induced an infield pop-out before ending the inning with one of her five strikeouts.
 
Ritz improved to 21-6 with the win, walking two and scattering five hits. The junior star also had two of UCO's five hits.
 
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