CHATTANOOGA – In the second round of the winner's bracket, the University of North Georgia softball team will face second-seeded Central Oklahoma at Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two squads are the only two of the final eight remaining teams to bring home an NCAA Division II National Championships in their program's history.

Central Oklahoma (53-7)
The Bronchos return to the DII softball championship finals for the fourth time in program history. In their last appearance, UCO captured the program's first National Championship, winning it all in 2013. Central Oklahoma has been a force inside the circle all season long, coupling that dominant pitching with the best statistical defense in all of NCAA Division II.

UCO splits the load between two arms, led by Terin Ritz and Jordyn Pipkin. Ritz has thrown 192 and two-thirds innings in 38 appearances, earning a 27-2 record with a 2.03 ERA. Pipkin follows right behind, throwing 154 and one-third innings and owning a 19-2 record with a 2.22 ERA.

At the plate, third-basemen Shayla Harper leads, holding the team lead in batting average (.398), runs scored (56), home runs (14), runs batted in (54), slugging percentage (.722), on-base percentage (.464)

The Bronchos have won 22 of their last 23 games, with their lone loss in that time coming in the opening game of the Super Regional.

Last Time Out
UNG - North Georgia went down early but worked quickly and found an answer, defeating sixth-seeded East Stroudsburg 6-2, led by a complete game from Tybee Denton (W, 20-1) and a two-hit, two RBI performance by Sophie Mooney.

UCO - The Bronchos defeated seventh-seeded Nova Southeastern 5-1 behind the arm of Ritz (W, 27-2) and a 3-3 outing at the plate for veteran catcher Amelya Huggins.

The Numbers
UNG - Ranks top 10 in nine statistical categories nationally, ranking first in hits, first in strikeout to walk ratio, second in W/L percentage and doubles, fourth in scoring and shutouts, fifth in batting average, sixth in home runs per game and ninth in total stolen bases.

UCO - Ranks top 10 in 11 statistical categories nationally, ranking first in fielding percentage, third in doubles and double plays, fourth in walks, sixth in W/L Percentage and sacrifice flies, seventh in total runs, eighth in hits, ninth in scoring and home runs, and tenth in slugging percentage.