No. 13-ranked Central Oklahoma begins a lengthy homestand and opens Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play this weekend when the Bronchos host a pair of doubleheaders at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

UCO, 18-3 on the season, takes on defending league champion Pittsburg State (13-5) in a 2 p.m. twinbill Friday before meeting Missouri Southern (12-8) for two games at 2 p.m. Sunday. It's the first of eight straight league home games for the Bronchos.

"We've been on the road for a while and are looking forward to being in our own park," said head coach Cody White, who is 464-163 in his 12th year at the helm. "It's been a tough two weeks with the travel and a condensed schedule, but I'm really proud of how our girls have responded.

"We know it's going to be a challenging weekend against two good teams and we'll have to play well."

UCO will have an extended break after this weekend, not returning to action until hosting MIAA foes Rogers State and Northeastern State on March 21-22.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO played 10 games in a seven-day span at the Washburn Invitational and Branson Showtime Classic, going 9-1 in that stretch. The Bronchos have won six straight and 11 of their last 12, ending seven of those contests early on the eight-run rule.

Central ranks in the top 20 nationally in 11 categories – third in shutouts (seven), fifth in on-base percentage (.442), 10th in total runs (164) and sacrifice flies (11), 11th in runs batted in (146), 12th in average (.356), home runs (21) and fielding percentage (.981), 17th in slugging percentage (.566), 18th in scoring (7.8 runs/game) and 20th in walks (73).

Three players are batting over .400 to lead the offensive assault – Rylee Lemos (.485), Kennedy Clark (.448) and Terin Ritz (.424). Rylee Anglen isn't far behind at .381.

Lemos has reached base and scored at least one run in every game this season. The junior star leads the team in at bats (66), runs (34), hits (32), homers (seven),total bases (64), slugging percentage (.970), on-base percentage (.585) and stolen bases (eight) while sharing the lead in doubles (seven), triples (two) and walks (11).

She ranks the top 15 nationally in four categories – fourth in runs and total bases, seventh in homers and 15th in slugging percentage. Lemos has already moved into fifth place in triples (11) and stolen bases (50) and is seventh in runs (152) on UCO's career lists.

Clark is on a seven-game hitting streak. The junior transfer has five doubles and 22 RBI.

Ritz has six doubles, four homers and two triples while also topping the Bronchos in RBI with 29, which ranks sixth in Division II. The two-time All-American has moved into fifth place on the school's career list for RBI (185) and is now sixth in homers (39).

Emily Deramus is batting .323 with seen doubles, four homers and 28 RBI. The junior standout has moved into ninth place in career doubles at UCO with 42. Deramus ranks second nationally in sacrifice flies (four) and is 14th in RBI.

Six UCO pitchers have combined for a paltry 2.17 earned run average, with the Bronchos allowing just 5.2 hits and 2.7 runs a game.

Shelby Beard leads the way with a 9-0 record and 1.13 ERA, ranking ninth in Division II in wins. The sophomore has 43 strikeouts and 10 walks in 37.1 innings, with opponents batting a mere .187 against her.

Sydney Ward is 4-1 with a 2.47 ERA. The senior transfer threw a perfect game in her last outing – the first at UCO since 2017 – and has fanned 43 batters and walked only four in a team-high 39.2 innings.

Ritz has a 3-2 record and 2.63 ERA with 30 strikeouts and seven walks in 37.1 innings. She's in the top 10 in three career categories at UCO – sixth in wins (57), seventh in innings (439) and ninth in strikeouts (274).

ABOUT THE GORILLAS: Pittsburg State won the MIAA title last year in making the Division II national tournament, finishing 53-8.

The Gorillas are averaging 9.4 hits and 5.2 hits heading into the weekend with a .345 team average behind Heather Arnett, the MIAA Co-Player of the Year in 2024 with Ritz.

Arnett is hitting a league-leading .565 with four doubles and 17 stolen bases to pace the offense. Alleyna Rushing has a .453 average and Courtney Storey is batting .446 with four doubles and 18 RBI.

PSU owns a 2.71 team ERA while giving up 5.2 hits and 3.3 runs a contest. Aydenne Brown (5-2, 2.83 ERA, 50 strikeouts) and Ava Laurent (7-3, 3.42 ERA, 62 strikeouts) lead the pitching staff.

UCO has a 25-22 lead in the series, though the Gorillas won all three meetings last year.

ABOUT THE LIONS: Missouri Southern plays a doubleheader at Newman Friday before coming to UCO. Sunday's contest was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was moved back a day in anticipation of bad weather.

MSSU averages 7.4 hits and 5.1 runs a game with three players batting .348 or better.

Katie Gray leads the team with a .392 average, six homers, five doubles and 20 RBI. Bailey Dillon his batting .377 with three triples and 13 steals, while Kylee Jacks is hitting .348 with two homers, 12 RBI and seven steals.

The Lions have a 2.53 team ERA while giving up 5.6 hits and 3.3 runs per outing. Kiki Pickens is 7-2 with a 2.55 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 49.1 innings to lead the way.

The Bronchos own a big 37-8 series lead and have won 20 of the last 21 meetings.