UCO softball slides into MIAA/NSIC Crossover

The Central Oklahoma softball team travels to Pittsburg, Kansas, this weekend to compete at the MIAA/NSIC Crossover in a six-team, round robin-style event.

The three-day event features six total schools from both the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). UCO and Pittsburg State (Kan.) will represent the MIAA, with the event itself being held at PSU’s Softball Complex in Pittsburg. 

The remaining four participating schools all belong to the NSIC; Augustana (S.D.), Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), St. Cloud State (Minn.) and Winona State (Minn.).

Winners of their last nine games, UCO has an opportunity to face a couple of uncommon opponents from outside of their conference. They’re currently slated to play three of the four participating teams from the NSIC. One of which defeated the Bronchos early in the season.

Head coach Cody White’s squad will face Augustana on Friday in the first of three double-headers over the weekend, with the first game beginning at 10 A.M. and the latter starting at noon. UCO suffered a 2-1 loss to the Vikings at the Mardi Gras Invitational back on Feb. 2, just the team’s second game of the season.

Since that loss, the Bronchos have gone 16-4 and have only given up three-or-more runs once in their last eight contests.

On Saturday, UCO will play another double-header against St. Cloud State, then again on Sunday versus Winona State. Both teams are coming off wins in their most recent matchups.

UCO comes into the event as the highest-ranked participating school out of the six, at No. 11 in the country. The team holds a 16-6 overall record and an undefeated 4-0 in conference games.

The MIAA/NSIC Crossover kicks off on Friday, March 15 and will end Sunday, March 17 following the conclusion of all scheduled matchups. Games can be streamed on the MIAA official website, themiaanetwork.com, with users required to purchase access to watch.