(Springfield, Mo.) – The Central Missouri Jennies softball team split its games on the first day of the MIAA Crossover in Springfield, Mo. on Friday afternoon. UCM fell in the first game 1-0 to No. 23 Nebraska-Omaha and defeated Washburn 4-2 in the second contest.
      Sophomore Ashlea Bengtson led the Jennies going 4-of-5 at the plate. She scored once, hit one in, and stole one base. Freshman Braylyn Bivens tallied two hits, and stole one base.
      The Jennies will be back in action on Saturday, continuing in the MIAA Crossover. They will open the day with No. 22 Missouri Western at 10 a.m. and then face Fort Hays State at noon. Both games will be from the Cooper Softball Complex in Springfield, Mo.
 
Game 1: Jennies 0, No. 23 Nebraska-Omaha 1
      Central Missouri outhit the Mavericks 4-3 but could not manufacture any runs. UNO scored its run in the second inning after receiving a bases loaded walk.
      The Jennies recorded two hits by Bengtson, and one each from juniors Katie Groves and Jadee Young. UCM had one runner on third base and two others get to second base but they couldn't get that extra hit to move them around.
      Sophomore Sarah Espy suffered her fifth loss of the season, going the whole game in the circle. She gave up the one run off three hits, three walks and struck out six.
 
Game 2: Jennies 4, Washburn 2
      Washburn scored its two runs in the first inning but gave up a pair in each of the fifth and sixth frames. WU also outhit the Jennies 10-6 in the game as Central Missouri combined for only two hits through the first four innings.
      Central Missouri had runners on second and third with two outs and freshman Brittany Rozier at the plate. She singled to right field that allowed both runners to score and tie the game.
      In the sixth inning with runners on first and second, junior Nicole Norberg and Bengtson both singled for two extra runs and a RBI each.
      The Lady Blues scored on four consecutive hits in the first frame, all with two outs.
      Junior Lacey Dixon won her fourth game of the season, throwing 5.2 innings of relief. She scattered four hits, walked one and struck out one. Senior Jamin Landreth started the game, going 1.1 innings. She gave up both runs on six hits and struck out one batter.