EDMOND – No. 18-ranked Central Oklahoma faces another big challenge this weekend when the Bronchos host a pair of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rivals on back-to-back days at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.
UCO, 27-8 on the season and 5-3 in league play, takes on Northwest Missouri (25-8, 5-3) at 11 a.m. Friday and meets Missouri Western (24-9, 5-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
"We're gearing up for another tough weekend in MIAA play," head coach Sam Maples said. "I love the month of April because your toughness and resilience as a team is tested for postseason play. We can't wait to be at home again with our crowd."
"I am so confident in our athletes to keep showing up for each other. We've had different people stepping up throughout the year and this weekend will be no different. We've prepared our game plan and now we just need to execute."
The Bronchos follow this weekend's home games with a trip to near-by Southern Nazarene next Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader before returning home to host conference foe Emporia State on April 10.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO went 2-2 in a pair of road MIAA doubleheaders last weekend and is tied for fourth in the crowded league standings at 5-3.
The Bronchos feature one of the top offenses in Division II, averaging 7.09 runs per game behind a .344 team average.
Eight regulars are batting above .300, led by senior third baseman Sherri Mason (.404) and junior outfielder Brooklyn Ryan (.402). Mason has eight doubles, three home runs and 18 runs batted in while Ryan has at least one hit in 12 of the last 13 games.
Outfielder Haley Gallo has established herself as one of the top freshmen sluggers in Division II with 11 doubles, nine homers and 45 RBI, which ranks 12th nationally. She has three doubles, two homers, one triple and 19 RBI in the last eight games.
Senior outfielder Rylee Lemos is hitting .374 with 11 doubles, six homers, five triples and 41 RBI. She's ninth in Division II in runs scored with 42.
Sophomore first baseman/designated player Brooklyn Lyles (.342), senior catcher/first baseman Kennedy Clark (.336, 33 RBI), sophomore catcher Jenna Jobe (.333, 15 doubles) and freshman shortstop Hannah Demoff (.302, 22 RBI) are also over the .300 mark.
The pitching staff continues to be led by junior Shelby Beard and freshman Carleigh Kinnaird, who have combined for 26 wins, 194.1 innings and 16 complete games.
Beard is 13-4 with a 2.58 earned run average in 23 games and 97.2 innings. She's ninth nationally in games started (19) and has 89 strikeouts, with opponents hitting just .237.
Kinnaird has a 13-2 record and 2.90 ERA in 21 appearances and 96.2 innings. Opponents are batting a mere .190 against the rookie, who has struck out 112 batters.
LEMOS SETS ANOTHER RECORD: The senior standout became UCO's all-time runs scored leader last weekend, scoring four runs in a second-game win over Northeastern State to give her 231 in surpassing Morgan Heard's mark of 230.
Lemos already holds the school career record for triples with 22 and is moving up in several other categories. She ranks third in stolen bases (73, one from second), third in hit by pitch (36, one from second), fifth in doubles (53, three from fourth), sixth in hits (258, 10 from fifth), eighth in at bats (703, one from seventh), tied for ninth in RBI (142, two from eighth) and 10th in games played (218, one from ninth).
Lemos also has 26 career homers, needing one more to move into the top 10.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS: Northwest Missouri has won four of its last five games and is 4-2 on the road this season.
The Bearcats are hitting .295 as a team and have four players over .300, led by Emma Hague (.376, eight doubles, 16 steals) and Omara Love (.357, 30 RBI, 14 steals).
NWMSU has a 2.91 team ERA, with Jadyn Streigle and Rien Moore pacing the staff. Streigle is 12-2 with 11 complete games and a 1.51 ERA in 88.0 innings, while Moore is 9-1 with a 2.65 ERA in 76.2 innings.
UCO owns a 44-12 lead in the series with the Bearcats.
ABOUT THE GRIFFONS: Missouri Western plays a doubleheader at Newman Friday before coming to Edmond.
The Griffons have four players hitting .304 or better, led by Ayva McComas (.340, 28 RBI) and Kenedee Giddens (.329). Kalee Higdon has 23 stolen bases and Ashyln Finarty 10 homers.
MWSU has utilized five pitchers in putting together a 2.90 team ERA. Harley Pruetting is 9-3 with a 2.60 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 62.0 innings and Torie Sandoval is 7-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 67.1 innings.
The Bronchos have a 27-22 lead in the series.
