EDMOND – Central Oklahoma's offense faltered Sunday as the No. 13-ranked Bronchos split an MIAA doubleheader with Missouri Southern at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

UCO managed just three hits in the first game, but pulled out a 2-0 win on Terin Ritz's two-run home run in the sixth inning. The Bronchos were no hit in the nightcap, falling 9-0 in five innings to snap a nine-game winning streak.

"We just couldn't get our bats going today," said head coach Cody White, whose team is now 21-4 on the season and 3-1 in conference play. "Both Missouri Southern pitchers really threw well and we didn't make the adjustments we needed to. It was a frustrating day."

Sydney Ward was masterful in the circle in the opener for the Bronchos.

The senior right-hander retired the first eight batters of the game before giving up a single in the third, with MSSU's only other hit coming in the fourth. Ward struck out six and walked two in improving to 4-1.

UCO mustered little offense of its own, finishing with just three hits. But Ritz had the only one that mattered, following Kennedy Clark's two-out walk in the sixth with her sixth homer of the season – and 39th of her career – to give the Bronchos the hard-earned win.

The Lions scored four two-out runs in the third inning of the nightcap to take a 4-0 lead and really broke it open in the fifth with five more runs to make it 9-0. Central had no answer offensively, putting just two runners on base via walk in the game.

The Bronchos are back home next weekend for conference doubleheaders against No. 6 Rogers State and Northeastern State.