Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Ariah Mitchell
Ariah Mitchell
9
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 48-8
2
Rogers State RSU 38-14
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
48-8
9
Final
2
Rogers State RSU
38-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Central Oklahoma UCO 4 0 0 0 1 2 2 9 10 0
Rogers State RSU 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 6 0

W: Ritz, Terin (20-3) L: Culie,H (18-6)

Game Recap: Softball |

Bronchos Strike Early, Top Rogers State To Make Regional Finals

Ariah Mitchell's First-inning Grand Slam Keyed UCO's 9-2 Victory

EDMOND – Ariah Mitchell came through with another huge first-inning hit in a Central Oklahoma-Rogers State showdown Friday afternoon to propel the No. 4-Bronchos into the winner's bracket finals of the NCAA Division II Central Regional I Tournament.

Mitchell had a three-run double in the opening inning of UCO's MIAA Tournament finals rout over the No 16 Hillcats last week and went one better this time, smacking a two-out grand slam in the top of the first to ignite a 9-2 victory.

The Bronchos improved to 48-8 in moving into Saturday's 1 p.m. finals against the RSU-Minnesota State winner, with the "if necessary" game at 3:30. The champion faces the Central Regional II winner next week in the best-of-three Central Super Regional for a berth in the eight-team NCAA Division II Championship Finals.

Rylee Lemos, Terin Ritz and Emily Deramus all walked in the top of the first to load the bases with two outs and set the stage for Mitchell.

The freshman first baseman took the first pitch for a ball, the second for a strike and then deposited the next offering high over the right field wall for a dramatic grand slam. It was only the second homer of the season for Mitchell.

"My mindset going up there was just to get on base," Mitchell said. "A base hit, just to score people. She (pitcher Harley Culie) got a strike and came back at me with the same pitch and I was like, 'okay, let's go.'"

Mitchell's big fly staked UCO to a 4-0 lead, which the Hillcats cut to 4-2 after four innings. But the Bronchos pulled away down the stretch, scoring five runs in the final three frames to claim their fourth win of the season over RSU.

"This is one of the grittiest teams and grittiest wins since I've been here," said 12th-year head coach Cody White. "Our offense really took a lot of pressure off Terin (Ritz) today. Terin has been light's out, so it was really good to see our offense shine."

Ritz went the distance in the pitching circle for her ninth straight complete game, improving to 20-3. The senior right-hander allowed six hits and struck out six with no walks in picking up her fifth consecutive postseason win.

Ritz also set the all-time school record for walks with the first-inning free pass that was the 108th of her career.

Rogers State got on the scoreboard in the second with a solo homer than ended an 18-inning scoreless streak by the Bronchos and Ritz, then added another score in the fourth to pull within 4-2.

It was all UCO after that.

Rylee Anglen led off the fifth with a double down the right field line, Kennedy Clark walked and Deramus had a bloop single to load the bases once more for Mitchell, who came through again with a deep sacrifice fly to center field that made it 5-2.

The Bronchos added to their advantage in the sixth.

Macie Andrews walked to open the inning, Brooklyn Ryan laid down a  sacrifice bunt and Lemos singled through the left side before advancing on the throw to put runners on second and third. RSU tried to get Andrews at home on Anglen's chopper to the shortstop, but she slid around the tag.

That call was upheld after a video review and Lemos trotted home on Clark's long sacrifice fly to center field to up the lead to 7-2.

UCO finished the scoring in the seventh.

Mitchell drew a one-out walk and Mari Scott followed with a double down the right field line. Andrews put down a perfect squeeze bunt to drive in Mitchell and Lemos' two-out single to left scored Scott.

The Bronchos finished with 10 hits, getting two each from Lemos, Anglen and Deramus. Andrews at third and Deramus at shortstop both made spectacular plays to lead UCO's flawless defensive effort.



 
 
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors