EDMOND – Central Oklahoma begins its quest for a second straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title this weekend when the No. 17-ranked Bronchos host a pair of doubleheaders at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.
UCO, 22-5 on the season, takes on Washburn (24-9, 1-3) at 2 p.m. Friday before meeting Central Missouri (15-7, 1-1) at noon Saturday. The Bronchos knocked off No. 12 Oklahoma Christian 5-2 on the road Tuesday in their final tune-up before starting league play.
"We're ready to get started with conference play this weekend and the MIAA is incredibly competitive," head coach Sam Maples said. "Our goal with Oklahoma Christian was to get our athletes ready by seeing a great team with good pitching and offense.
"I think we very much accomplished that and we've continued to stay consistent at practice this week to be ready."
UCO has won four straight games and 12 of its last 13 heading into the weekend.
The Bronchos are averaging 7.44 runs and 9.37 hits a game behind a .355 team average, with seven starters batting .315 or better. UCO has a 3.38 team earned run average while giving up 3.63 runs and 5.93 hits a contest.
Junior Brooklyn Ryan tops the team with a .402 average that includes six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 12 runs batted in and eight stolen bases. She has also scored 26 runs and is riding a five-game hitting streak.
Sophomore Brooklyn Lyles is hitting .389 with seven doubles and 15 RBI, while sophomore Jenna Jobe is at .388 with 13 doubles and 18 RBI.
Senior Rylee Lemos ignites the offense from her leadoff spot, carrying a .386 average with 10 doubles, five triples, four homers, 36 RBI and 32 runs scored. She's hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games and has scored at least one run in 21 of UCO's 27 games.
Lemos is already the school's all-time leader in triples with 22 in addition to ranking in UCO's career top 10 in runs (3rd, 221), steals (3rd 71), doubles (T5th, 52), hits (7th, 252), at bats (8th, 684) and RBI (T10th, 137).
Senior Kennedy Clark (.366, 26 RBI), freshman Haley Gallo (.359, eight doubles, seven homers, 26 RBI) and freshman Hannah Demoff (six doubles, three homers, 20 RBI) are also hitting .315 or better for UCO's potent offense.
Junior Shelby Beard and rookie Carleigh Kinnaird are the ringleaders of the pitching staff, having combined for 25 starts.
Beard boosts an 11-3 record and 2.87 ERA in 19 appearances with 15 starts. She has 78 strikeouts in 75.2 innings and has thrown six complete games.
Kinnaird is 10-1 with a 3.56 ERA in 17 games with 10 starts, including four complete games. She's fanned 91 batters in 72.2 innings.
Washburn opened league play last weekend and went 1-3 in four home games. The Ichabods will be playing their first true road games Friday against UCO, having played 24 at neutral sites and nine at home.
WU is hitting .320 as a team while averaging 6.42 runs and 8.57 hits a game. The Ichabods have a 2.61 team ERA in allowing just 2.84 runs and 6.64 hits per contest.
Makenzie Sais leads the way with a .400 average, four doubles and an incredible 55 stolen bases, which leads Division II by a wide margin. Taylor Brees is hitting .378 with five doubles and 21 RBI while Delaney Anderson is at .333 with nine doubles, eight homers and 40 RBI.
Sadie Walker tops the pitching staff with a 12-5 record and 1.82 ERA. She's walked just 20 and struck out 96 in 111.2 innings with eight complete games, including five shutouts.
UCO has a 34-19 lead in the series.
Central Missouri split its first two conference games last week and plays a doubleheader at Newman Friday before coming to Edmond
The Mules average 5.86 runs and 8.36 hits a game behind a .301 team average. UCM allows 3.63 runs and 6.78 hits a game behind a 3.08 team ERA.
Kyrsten Moran tops the offense with a .385 average, while Lexi Blackmon is at .377 with 13 stolen bases and Bailey Brumley at .354 with four doubles, four homers and 18 RBI.
Riley Bebb and Andi Siebeneck are tops in the circle. Bebb is 3-2 with a 2.35 ERA and just seven walks in 44.2 innings, while Siebeneck is 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 38.1 innings.
The Bronchos own a 27-22 advantage in the series.
