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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

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Terin Ritz
Terin Ritz
7
Winner Central Okla. UCO 32-6, 11-2 MIAA
1
Emporia State ESU 25-14, 6-7 MIAA
Winner
Central Okla. UCO
32-6, 11-2 MIAA
7
Final
1
Emporia State ESU
25-14, 6-7 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Central Okla. UCO 2 3 0 2 0 0 0 7 7 1
Emporia State ESU 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2

W: Ritz, Terin (10-2) L: Rabe, Gracie (8-9)

11
Winner Central Okla. UCO 33-6, 12-2 MIAA
6
Emporia State ESU 25-16, 6-8 MIAA
Winner
Central Okla. UCO
33-6, 12-2 MIAA
11
Final
6
Emporia State ESU
25-16, 6-8 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Central Okla. UCO 0 0 2 0 3 2 4 11 12 3
Emporia State ESU 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 6 9 3

W: Pipkin, Jordyn (4-0) L: Harrison, Jordan (12-4) S: Ritz, Terin (1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Ritz Shines In UCO Sweep of Emporia State

No. 6-ranked Bronchos Stay Atop MIAA Standings with 7-1, 11-6 Wins

EMPORIA, Kansas – Terin Ritz carried a big load for Central Oklahoma Sunday in leading the No. 6-ranked Bronchos to a key road doubleheader sweep of MIAA rival Emporia State.

The senior star blasted two home runs and drove in six runs while also picking up a win and a save in the pitching circle as UCO beat the Hornets 7-1 and 11-6. The Bronchos improved to 33-6 overall and a league-leading 12-2.

"Terin showed why she's the best player in the country," head coach Cody White said. "She came through big time today, both with her pitching and clutch hitting. It was a great performance.

"We struggled defensively today, especially in the second game. We kept hurting ourselves, but somehow we got the job done and came out with two good road wins."
 
Ritz paved the way in the opener, ripping her ninth homer of the season in the first inning to give UCO the early lead and putting together another stellar outing in the circle.

Rylee Lemos led off the game with an infield single and Ritz came through with a two-out rocket to left-center for a two-run bomb that gave UCO a lead it would never relinquish.

Emporia scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first, but the Bronchos answered back in the second.

Makenzie Fithian walked to lead off and scored on an error that allowed Macie Andrews to reach base. Brooklyn Ryan followed with an infield single, both runners advanced on a passed ball and Lemos' groundout plated Andrews before Ariah Mitchell's run-scoring single made it 5-1.

UCO upped its advantage to 7-1 in the fourth. Andrews led off with a single to right field, Ryan drove a triple to right-center and Mitchell's two-out RBI single up the middle completed the scoring.

The Bronchos finished with seven hits, getting two apiece from Mitchell and Ryan.

Ritz improved to 10-2 with the pitching win, allowing just two hits and no walks in six innings while striking out two. Kaylee Bradley came on to throw the seventh to finish off the game.

UCO overcame a season-high three errors to pull out a back-and-forth battle in the nightcap.

The Hornets scored an unearned run in the first and added a solo homer in the second to go up 2-0, with UCO tying it in the third.

Lemos got a one-out rally going with a single through the left side, Mitchell doubled to right and Kennedy Clark drove in the first run with a groundout before Ritz's double down the right field line made it 2-2.

ESU went back on top in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs, but Ritz answered in the fifth to put Central back in front.

Lemos led off the inning with a walk, Clark drew a one-out free pass and Ritz plastered a full-count pitch over the left field wall to give the Bronchos a 5-4 lead. It was Ritz's 43rd career homer, moving her into third place on the school's all-time list.

UCO added to that in the sixth as Ryan got the inning going with a triple down the right field line. She stayed at third on Rylee Anglen's infield hit and trotted home on Lemos' single to center, with an error allowing Anglen to score on the play to make it 7-4.

Emporia came back with two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to pull within 7-6 before the Bronchos finally put the game away with a four-run volley in the seventh.

Andrews got a one-out rally going with a single up the middle, Ryan reached on an error and Anglen had a bunt single to load the bases. Lemos drove in a run with a fielder's choice, Fithian plated two more with a double to center and Clark's RBI groundout gave UCO an 11-6 cushion.

Ritz put the Hornets down in order in the bottom of the frame to finish off the sweep and earn her first save of the season She gave up two unearned runs and one hit while walking one and striking out one in 2.2 innings.

Jordyn Pipkin picked up the win, improving to 4-0. She threw 2.1 innings of relief, allowing three hits and no runs.

The Bronchos finished with 12 hits, getting two each from Lemos, Mitchell, Ritz, Andrews and Anglen.

UCO returns to Edmond this weekend to host Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State Friday and Saturday in the final MIAA home games of the season.
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