Bronchos Head To Kansas For Weekend Tourney

No. 17 UCO Set to Play Four Games Saturday and Sunday

No. 17-ranked Central Oklahoma goes back on the road this weekend, traveling to Topeka, Kansas for four games at the Ichabod Invitational hosted by Washburn.

The Bronchos take on Wayne State (10 a.m.) and Minnesota State (noon) Saturday at Gahnstrom Field on the Washburn campus before facing Montana State-Billings (10 a.m.) and Rockhurst (noon) Sunday at Washburn Rural High School.

"We've had a great week of practice cleaning up some things and staying consistent with our process," head coach Sam Maples said. "It should be four really good games where we can get out and compete again."

UCO, 11-4 on the season, is participating in the fourth of five straight weekend tournaments. This will be the second consecutive road trip for the Bronchos, who go to Shawnee, Kansas Feb. 27-March 1 for the Midwest College Classic.

Central returns home March 7 to host Drury for a doubleheader.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has featured a high-powered offensive attack in the early going, with the Bronchos hitting .349 as a team while leading Division II in doubles (40) and runs batted in (112).

The Bronchos also rank second in total runs (120) and third in hits (142) in averaging 8.0 runs a game, which is 12th best nationally.

Six players are hitting .340 or better, led by senior outfielder Brooklyn Ryan and senior first baseman/catcher Kennedy Clark. Ryan has a .447 average with three doubles, 10 RBI and a team-high five stolen bases, while Clark is batting .426 with 17 RBI.

Sophomore catcher/designated player Jenna Jobe is hitting .396 with a Division II-leading nine doubles. Freshman outfield Haley Gallo is at .381 with five doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI.

Sophomore first baseman/DP Brooklyn Lyles has a .346 average and is riding a seven-game hitting streak. Senior outfielder Rylee Lemos is hitting .340 and is tied for second nationally in runs (20), triples (four) and RBI (25).

The returning All-American also has six doubles and two homers. Lemos has two-plus RBI in eight of UCO's 15 games, including a career-high six against New Mexico Highlands.

Junior Shelby Beard and freshman Carleigh Kinnaird have handled the bulk of the pitching duties so far.

Beard is 5-2 with a 3.47 earned run average in 12 games with eight starts. She's thrown two complete games and has 36 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Kinnard is 6-1 with a 4.67 ERA in 11 games and has fanned 59 batters in 45 innings. She has two complete games in six starts.

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Players Mentioned

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

#14 Kennedy Clark: C/1B; 5' 7"; Senior; L/L

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

#13 Brooklyn Lyles: IF; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

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

#22 Haley Gallo: OF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#28 Carleigh Kinnaird: P; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

#1 Jenna Jobe: C/IF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R

Players Mentioned

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

#14 Kennedy Clark
: 5' 7"; Senior; L/L
: C/1B

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

#13 Brooklyn Lyles
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

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

#22 Haley Gallo
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

#28 Carleigh Kinnaird
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#1 Jenna Jobe
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R
: C/IF