(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – Jennies Softball (14-8, 4-2 MIAA) split an MIAA doubleheader with the Washburn Lady Blues (6-14, 2-4 MIAA) at the South Recreation Complex Tuesday afternoon, falling in the first game 6-3 and winning game two 13-5 in five innings.
The Jennies took an early 1-0 lead in game one due to Jakki Prater’s RBI single in the bottom of the first.
Washburn answered in the top of the second, plating four runs courtesy of a grand slam from Haylee Marsteller to take a 4-1 lead.
UCM cut the Lady Blue advantage to 4-2 in the bottom of the third when Prater singled for her second RBI of the game.
Washburn extended the lead to 6-2 in the top of the sixth on a Katie Schroeder two RBI single. The Jennies got a run back in the bottom half of the inning after Brittany Knabe singled to first, cutting the Washburn lead to 6-3 heading into the top of the seventh.
The Jennies were able to get a runner on in the bottom of the seventh but the Lady Blues kept the runner from scoring, resulting in the 6-3 loss.
Both teams had seven hits in the first contest. Katie Shockley suffered the loss in the circle for UCM, dropping her record to 2-4 overall, while Lauren Thimmesch took the win for Washburn to improve to 5-6.
Like game one, the Jennies struck first in game two with a run in the bottom of the first, courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Prater to take the 1-0 lead.
Washburn once again took a 4-1 lead in the top of the second on a long ball from Shelby Erickson. The Jennies answered this time though, plating seven runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 7-4 lead. The scoring started when Kristen Heil homered to center field, scoring two. The round-tripper from Heil was her first of the season. Medora West and Knabe crossed home plate to give the Jens a 5-4 lead on an error by Washburn and Ashlea Bengtson added a two RBI single to extend the UCM advantage to 7-4.
The Jennies grew the lead to 9-4 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from West and a fielder’s choice RBI from Emily Bybee-King,
The Lady Blues got a run back in the top of the fourth on a solo home run from Deidra Jones but the Jennies answered in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to invoke the run rule for the 13-5 victory. The Jennies scored two of the three runs on a wild pitch from the Lady Blues and another from a Washburn miscue.
The Jennies outhit the Lady Blues 11-5 and committed no errors compared to Washburn’s four. West, Prater, Bengtson and Heil each batted in two runs for the Jens while Bybee-King scored one, respectively.
Jennies right-hander Jessica Wilkes pitched 3.2 innings, striking out one to pick up the win and improve her record in the circle to 4-1. Marina Quimby took the loss for Washburn, dropping her record to 1-8.
The Jennies are slated to be back in action Friday as they travel to St. Joseph, Mo. to take part in the Missouri Western Invitational. Central Missouri will face Augustana (S.D.) and Minnesota State on day one of the three day tournament at Heritage Park, with game one starting at 10 a.m. and game two beginning at noon.