No. 5 UCO To Host Two MIAA Doubleheaders This Weekend

League-leading Bronchos Take On Nebraska-Kearney Friday and Fort Hays State Saturday

EDMOND – No. 5-ranked Central Oklahoma opens a six-game homestand this weekend when the Bronchos host a pair of MIAA foes on consecutive days at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

UCO, 33-6 overall and tied for the league lead with Pittsburg State at 12-2, takes on Nebraska-Kearney (20-19, 6-8) in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Friday before meeting Fort Hays State (22-12, 7-7) in a noon twinbill Saturday.

Saturday will be Senior Day, with the Bronchos set to recognize Kaylee Bradley, Jordyn Pipkin, Terin Ritz, Layne Smith and Sydney Ward before the first game.

"It's always good to be home," head coach Cody White said. "We've played well in our own stadium this year and hopefully that continues this weekend. Every game is important, especially at this stage of the season, and we need to stay focused on the task at hand."

UCO entertains near-by rival Southern Nazarene in a 4 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday to wrap up the home schedule. The Bronchos finish the regular season with six MIAA road games before going to Hays, Kansas for the MIAA Softball Championships April 30-May 3.

ABOUT THE BRONCHO OFFENSE: UCO averages 6.69 runs and 8.51 hits a game behind a .327 team average.

The Bronchos rank in the top 20 nationally in five categories – 13th in on base percentage (.420), 16th in runs batted in per game (6.10), 17th in scoring (6.69 runs/game), 18th in total RBI (238) and 18th in runs (261).

Rylee Lemos continues to spark the offense from her lead-off spot in the lineup with a .427 average that includes 10 doubles, nine home runs, four triples, 29 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

The junior standout ranks fifth nationally in runs with 51 and has a .530 on base percentage.

Terin Ritz is also above the .400 mark at .409 with 10 doubles, 10 homers and 50 RBI, which ranks 11th in Division II. The senior star has an .809 slugging percentage and .522 on base percentage.

Four other players are hitting above .300 – Ariah Mitchell (.387, seven doubles, 31 RBI), Kennedy Clark (.339, five doubles, 32 RBI), Brooklyn Ryan (.330, five doubles) and Rylee Anglen (.307, four doubles, 16 RBI).

ABOUT THE BRONCHO PITCHING: UCO's pitching staff has been stingy all season and ranks sixth nationally in shutouts with 12. The Bronchos are allowing just 2.64 runs and 5.90 hits per game behind a 2.23 team earned run average.

Shelby Beard tops the team in wins (11-2), ERA (1.69) and saves (two). The sophomore has appeared in 15 games with 10 starts and has struck out 54 batters in 58 innings.

Ritz has given up just five runs (four earned) in her last five starts and is now 10-2 with a 2.04 ERA. The two-time All-American has eight complete games in 14 starts with four shutouts and has walked just 13 batters in a team-high 85.2 innings.

Jordyn Pipkin is 4-0 with a 2.36 ERA in 11 games, while Sydney Ward has a 2.61 ERA and 8-2 record in 17 appearances. She's thrown five complete games in 12 starts with three shutouts and has fanned 65 in 72.1 innings.

RECORD BOOK LOOK: Ritz, Lemos and Emily Deramus have all put their name in the UCO record books in various career categories.

Pitching-wise, Ritz now ranks third in wins (64), fourth in shutouts (15), sixth in innings pitched (487.1) and eighth in strikeouts (301). At the plate, she's third in homers (43), fifth in RBI (184) and ninth in runs (144).

Lemos has moved into third place on UCO's all-time list for hit by pitch (27) while also ranking fourth in stolen bases (57) and sixth in runs (169).

Deramus ranks seventh in doubles (44) and ninth in homers (28).

ABOUT THE LOPERS: Nebraska-Kearney is ninth in the league standings with 10 games left. The top-10 teams make the MIAA Tournament April 30-May 3 in Hays, Kansas.

The Lopers average 4.38 runs and 6.46 hits per contest behind a .260 team average.

Mary Chvatal leads the offense with a .378 average, 12 doubles, three triples and 14 steals. Alyssa Fortik is hitting .316 with nine doubles, four triples and 30 RBI.

Jerzie Schindler is the top pitcher with a 6-6 record and 3.79 ERA in 71.1 innings. UNK has a 4.65 team ERA while giving up 4.38 runs and 7.20 hits a game.

UCO has a 25-12 lead in the series.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Fort Hays State is seventh in the MIAA standings and plays at Newman Friday before coming to Edmond.

The Tigers are batting .308 as a team in averaging 4.74 runs and 8.0 hits a game.

Madison Pierce is hitting .390 with six doubles, two homers and 17 RBI, while Lilly Mohr is at .356 with seven doubles, six homers and 15 RBI.

Morgan Schmidt and Savanah Egger handle the bulk of the pitching duties for FHSU, which has a 3.48 team ERA in allowing 3.88 runs and 6.83 hits per outing.

Schmidt is 10-4 with a 3.01 ERA and has struck out 95 in 90.2 innings with 12 complete games. Egger is 10-7 with a 3.32 ERA and has 11 complete games with 92 strikeouts in 103.1 innings.

The Bronchos own a 27-10 lead in the series.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#25 Kaylee Bradley: P; 5' 11"; Senior; R/R

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

#8 Rylee Lemos: OF; 5' 6"; Junior; L/R

#15 Jordyn Pipkin: P; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

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

#7 Brooklyn Ryan: OF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#1 Layne Smith: C/UT; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

#13 Sydney Ward: P; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

#25 Kaylee Bradley
: 5' 11"; Senior; R/R
: P

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

#8 Rylee Lemos
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#15 Jordyn Pipkin
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: P

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

#7 Brooklyn Ryan
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#1 Layne Smith
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: C/UT

#13 Sydney Ward
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: P