(Maryville, Mo.) – The Jennies softball team captured a split with the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri at Bearcat Field on Saturday afternoon. Central Missouri dropped its first game 5-3 but dominated in the second, taking a 9-0 shutout victory.
      UCM outhit the Bearcats 19-8 in the contests, also hitting more extra base hits. The Jennies collected six doubles and two homers, while leaving 10 base runners on.
      Junior Nicole Norberg lead the UCM charge with four hits on the day. She had one double, one RBI and two runs scored. Senior Kasey Martin and juniors Jaydee Young and Katie Groves all had three hits in the doubleheader. Martin recorded a double, and a run scored, Young had a three-run homer, three RBI and one run scored while Groves belted a grand slam and double for four RBI and two runs scored.
      The Jennies will be back in action on Tuesday when they head to Springfield, Mo. for a doubleheader against Drury. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
 
Game 1: Jennies 3, Northwest Missouri 5
      Central Missouri fell behind 5-0 after the fourth inning before putting together some at bats for three runs in the fifth. Both teams tallied five hits in the contest and a combined five errors. The Jennies left four base runners on to NWMSU stranding three.
      In the fifth inning with a runner on second and no outs, junior Brittany Martin hit a double to left field to put UCM on the board. Then with runners on first and second and one out, freshman Braylyn Bivens roped a double to left center for a RBI. The Jennies got their third run on a wild pitch.
      The Bearcats scored in the second inning on a solo home run. They added a pair in the third on an error by UCM and two more in the fourth on two more Jenny errors.
      Five Jennies all collected one hit each with Bivens, Groves and Brittany Martin all getting doubles. Kasey Martin and Jaydee Young both added a hit each.
      Junior Lacey Dixon went 6.0 innings for the loss. She gave up the five runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four.
 
Game 2: Jennies 9, Northwest Missouri 0
      The Jennies came out with hopes of splitting, and that is just what they did. After putting up zero's for the first five innings, Central Missouri's bats woke up by outhitting the Bearcats 14-3. UCM scored one in the sixth and then eight in the seventh.
      In the sixth inning with two outs and a runner on second, Norberg drilled a pitch to left center field for a double and the Jennies first run.
      Central Missouri sent 11 batters to the plate, recording eight hits. After three straight singles to load the bases, Groves stepped in and delivered with a grand slam. It is her first four-run bomb and the Jennies first since Jessica Marble hit one in the 2010 season. Then with runners on first and third, Brittany Martin doubled down the left field line for one. Young then dug in and crushed a pitch over the right field wall for a three-run shot. Both Groves and Young lead UCM with four homers this season.
      Norberg led the offense with four hits, scoring one and driving in one. Groves, Kasey Martin, and Young all tallied two in the game.
      Senior Jamin Landreth pitched the complete game shutout, her second on the season. She scattered three hits and struck out one.