(Wichita Falls, Texas.) – The Central Missouri Jennies softball team split on the first day of the Midwestern State Invitational on Friday afternoon. The Jennies beat No. 3 ranked host Mustangs 3-1 and fell by the same score to St. Mary's.
      Sophomore Ashlea Bengtson led the Jennies by going 3-of-6 on the day, with a double and run scored. Juniors Katie Groves and Jaydee Young as well as freshman Brittany Rozier all had two hits in the two games. Young tallied her second home run of the season, which also was the game winning hit.
      The Jennies will continue play in the MSU Invitational on Saturday as they will face St. Edward's at noon and St. Mary's at 4 p.m. from Wichita Falls, Texas.
 
Game 1: Jennies 3, No. 3 Midwestern State 1
      Central Missouri were down 1-0 after the second inning but went ahead in the fifth by scoring a pair. The Jennies added one more in the sixth to secure the win.
      The Jennies had a runner on second base and one out with Young at the plate. She hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot, that gave UCM its first lead of the contest.
      Later in the sixth Central Missouri added another run on a sacrifice fly to center field by senior Kelli Kurka.
      The Mustangs scored in the second on a Jenny error.
      UCM was out hit 6-5 in the game, with Bengtson hitting a single and double to lead the offense. Young, Rozier and junior Nicole Norberg all had one hit apiece.
      Senior Jamin Landreth recorded her fourth win of the season, throwing the whole game in the circle. She gave up the one run on six hits, walking three and striking out two.
 
Game 2: Jennies 1, St. Mary's 3
      The Rattlers put up three runs in the second inning, and they stood the whole game. Central Missouri attempted its come back in the fourth, but was only able to score one.
      With two outs and a runner on second, junior Brittany Martin singled to plate the UCM lone run.
      In the second frame St. Mary's sent eight batters to the plate, scoring three times off four hits.
      The Jennies were out hit 9-6 in the game. Groves led the UCM offense with two hits and a run scored. Martin, Bengtson, Young, and Rozier all had a hit apiece in the contest as well.
      Junior Lacey Dixon suffered her second loss of the season, throwing 2.1 innings in the circle. She gave up three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out one. Sophomore Megan Schallom threw 3.2 innings of relief, scattering four hits. She walked one batter and struck out two.