JOPLIN, Mo. – Central Missouri softball wrapped up their longest road swing of the season going 9-3 after a sweep of Missouri Southern (11-33, 4-16 MIAA). The wins push the conference-leading Jennies to 35-13 overall and 17-5 in the MIAA. Both 35 overall and 17 MIAA wins are the most since the 2009 season.
Game One: UCM 6, MSSU 4
The Jennies jumped out to an early lead, spotting starting pitcher Katie Shockley to a 3-0 lead before she took to the circle. UCM got the first four batters to all reach base and score three runs in the frame. Lauren Mabe, Alex Leonhart and Carlie Rose picked up back-to-back-to-back RBI’s.
The Lions roared back to take the lead scoring two in each of the second and third innings.
The score remained 4-3 until the Jennies final turn at bat in the seventh. Makayla Schoonover led things off with a walk and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position with nobody out. After she moved to third on a ground-outLindsey Dawson brought her in with a double down the left field line. Dawson scored to give the Jennies the lead on Mabe’s RBI single and UCM added an insurance run, taking a 6-4 on a Lions fielding error.
Shockley struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the comeback. With the comeback, Shockley notched her 16th win of the season and 12th in a row. She threw all seven innings allowing four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts.
At the dish, Dawson was one of four Jennies with multiple hits. She led the team with three to go along with two runs scored and an RBI. Mabe, Rose and Madison Hood each finished with two hits apiece. Mabe also collected two RBI.
Game Two: UCM 11, MSSU 0 – 5 Innings
Just like game one, UCM jumped out to a 3-0 in the top of the first. Ali Jo Rogers started things after being awarded first base on a hit by pitch and stealing second, her 32nd stolen base of the season. She scored the Jennies first run on Dawson’s RBI single. UCM scored their next two, taking advantage of some Lion’s miscues. Dawson came around to score on a wild pitch and Mabe scored the Jennies third run when Lions starter Ashley Lutz was called for an illegal pitch.
The Jens added four more in third, the first two on Leonhart’s second home run of the season. The homer made it 5-0 UCM and back-to-back doubles from Hood and Katie Giacone put the Jennies up six. UCM capped the inning on Dawson’s second RBI single of the game.
UCM kept pouring it on as Mabe connected for her sixth home run of the season to lead off the fourth, putting the Jens up 8-0. Dishinger made it 9-0 with a two-out RBI single. It’s her first RBI since March 20 against Wayne State. Prater hit the Jennies third home run of the game in the fifth with a two-run shot, bringing the Jens to their 11-0 final score.
The Jennies finished with 16 hits. Dawson collected six on the afternoon, getting three more in game two. She also scored two runs and drove in two more. Mabe also went 3-for-4 and scored three runs. Austin Eickleberry collected the first hit of her career with a single in the fifth.
Prater collected her second shutout of the season throwing all five innings and allowing just four baserunners. She improves to 13-7 on the season.
The Jennies return home for the first time since the beginning of the month, April 4. They will host their Pink Out game Thursday, April 23 against Lincoln. The team will wear their pink uniforms and will be selling pink t-shirts with proceeds going to the Johnson County Cancer Foundation. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Season Stats