BRANSON, Mo. – No. 13-ranked Central Oklahoma makes another road trip this weekend when the Bronchos head to the two-day Branson Showtime Classic.
UCO, 14-3 on the season, opens against Truman State (11-8) at 1 p.m. Friday before taking on Missouri S&T (2-11) at 3. The Bronchos return Saturday to face Lincoln (5-5) at 2:30 p.m. and Winona State (9-1) at 4:30.
"It's a short turnaround for us," said head coach Cody White, whose team went 5-1 at the weather-delayed Washburn Invitational in Topeka, Kan. Sunday-Tuesday. "It makes it tough on the girls with a short week, but I know they will be ready to go this weekend. We did some good things in Topeka and hopefully we can keep it going."
UCO follows this weekend's road trip with a return home March 7-8 to open MIAA play against Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO went 5-1 at the Washburn Invitational, recording run-rule routs over Missouri S&T (10-0), Concordia-St. Paul (8-0) and Maryville (9-0) to go along with wins over Wayne State (8-1) and Minot State (5-4). The Bronchos dropped a 3-2 decision to Minnesota State-Mankato.
Outfielder Rylee Lemos and pitcher Shelby Beard led the way with dominating performances.
Lemos hit .619 (13-for-21) with four home runs, three doubles, one triple and 10 runs batted in to earn MIAA Hitter of the Week honors. Beard was named the league's Pitcher of the Week after going 3-0 with an 0.44 earned run average and 17 strikeouts in 16 innings.
UCO is hitting .345 as a team while averaging 8.8 hits and 7.6 runs a game.
Lemos is the offensive ringleader with a .481 average to go along with six home runs, five doubles, two triples, 18 RBI, 28 runs scored and six stolen bases. The junior standout has reached base – and scored – in every game this season.
Lemos currently ranks second nationally in runs, fifth in total bases (52) and seventh in homers.
Senior Terin Ritz is hitting .444 with five doubles, three homers and two triples to go along with 25 RBI, which ranks sixth nationally.
Juniors Kennedy Clark (.383, 17 RBI) and Rylee Anglen (.367, 12 RBI) are also hitting over .350 for the Bronchos.
Beard tops a pitching staff that is allowing just 5.4 hits and 2.7 runs a game behind a 2.05 ERA. The sophomore right-hander is now 8-0 on the season with a paltry 0.45 ERA, having allowed just four runs (two earned) in 31.1 innings with 32 strikeouts.
ABOUT TRUMAN STATE: The Bulldogs are hitting .340 as a team in averaging 9.1 hits and 5.6 runs per game. TSU gives up 6.6 hits and 3.9 runs an outing behind a 3.85 team ERA.
Cassie Smith leads the offense with a .500 average, while Kayln Jones tops the pitching staff with a 5-0 record, 45 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA in 43.2 innings.
UCO has an 8-4 lead in the series.
ABOUT MISSOURI S&T: The Miners average 5.4 hits and 3.2 runs a game with a .217 team average. S&T has a 6.53 team ERA in allowing 9.6 hits and 7.0 runs per contest.
Taylor Nelson is hitting a team-high .357, with Julia Kanoy (2-2, 5.54 ERA) the top pitcher.
UCO has already beaten the Miners twice this season (10-2 on Feb. 8 and 10-0 on Feb. 23) and has a 4-0 series lead.
ABOUT LINCOLN: The Blue Tigers have a .352 team average in scoring 7.3 runs a game. Lincoln allows 5.2 runs a contest with a 4.40 team ERA.
Abbi Conrad leads the offense with a .455 average and eight stolen bases. Abby Pullman is 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 22 innings to highlight the pitching staff.
The Bronchos have dominated the series with the Blue Tigers, owning a 26-1 advantage.
ABOUT WINONA STATE: The Warriors had a nine-game winning streak ended in their last outing and feature a potent offense and stout pitching staff. WSU is hitting .375 in averaging 10.7 hits and 8.3 runs a game and allows just 4.9 hits and 2.1 runs behind a 2.37 ERA.
Sam Keller is the offensive catalyst, batting .559 with five doubles, three homers and 14 RBI. Jayda Berg is 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA and just two walks in 30.2 innings to headline the pitching corps.
UCO owns a 9-1 lead in the series.
