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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Team
0
Missouri Southern MSSU 37-17
4
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 45-8
Missouri Southern MSSU
37-17
0
Final
4
Central Oklahoma UCO
45-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Missouri Southern MSSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Central Oklahoma UCO 0 1 2 1 0 0 X 4 9 0

W: Ritz, Terin (17-3) L: Avery Tallman (15-7)

Game Recap: Softball |

Bronchos Tame Lions To Make MIAA Finals

Terin Ritz Throws Four-hit Shutout, Rylee Lemos Homers In 4-0 Win

HAYS, Kansas – Layne Smith was the unsung hero in Central Oklahoma's 4-0 shutout of Missouri Southern Friday afternoon in the semifinals of the MIAA Softball Championship.

The senior catcher teamed with pitcher Terin Ritz to keep the potent Lions at bay and off the base paths as the No. 4-ranked Bronchos moved into Saturday's noon finals against the Rogers State-Pittsburg State winner. Top-seeded UCO, now 45-8 on the season, will be gunning for its fourth league tournament title since 2017.

"Layne did an amazing job in controlling the game and was our MVP today," head coach Cody White said. "She was locked in and on it. They've got a lot of speed at the top of the lineup and Layne had a great approach to their lefties in making constant adjustments to keep them off-balance."

Smith's guidance paved the way for Ritz, who scattered four hits while striking out four and didn't walk a batter in tossing her second straight complete game of the tournament. The senior right-hander needed just 84 pitches to record her sixth shutout and is now 17-3 on the season.

Ariah Mitchell went 3-for-3 to lead UCO's nine-hit attack, with Kennedy Clark adding two hits.

"We had a different approach at the plate and it paid off for us," said White, whose team managed just three hits in splitting a regular season doubleheader with the Lions. "We played well today all the way around and beat a good team. We're going to play another tough team tomorrow and will have to be even better, but I'm proud of this group for the way they've performed the last two days."

The Bronchos tallied the only run they would need in the bottom of the second. Ritz led off with a double down the left field line and went to third on Emily Deramus' groundout before scooting home on Mitchell's single to right.

UCO scored twice more in the third and added a final run in the fourth.

Rylee Lemos had the big blow in the third with a no-doubt, one-out home run high over the right field wall. It was the 11th homer of the year for the junior, who entered the season with nine career dingers.

Rylee Anglen followed with a bunt single, Clark ripped a base hit up the middle and both advanced on Ritz's groundout. Anglen then raced home on a wild pitch to push UCO's advantage to 3-0.

Brooklyn Ryan drove in the final run in the fourth with a single up the middle. Mari Scott reached on a fielder's choice, went to second when Macie Andrews walked and took third on a wild pitch before trotting home on Ryan's hit.
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