Scene Setter...
Jennies softball will officially get their 2013 season underway this Friday thru Sunday when they travel to Durant, Oklahoma to participate in the Southeastern Regional Invitational Tournament hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

The Jennies opening day opponents Friday will be Arkansas-Monticello at 2 p.m. and Cameron University at approximately 4 p.m. Saturday Central Missouri will battle Arkansas Tech at noon before taking on Ouachita Baptist at 4 p.m. The Jens will conclude the invitational Sunday with a game against the host Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm at noon then Henderson State at around 2 p.m.
     
All games will be played at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex.

Scouting the Opponents:
Arkansas-Monticello: The Cotton Blossoms enter the Southeastern Regional Invitational with a 4-0 record, winning all four games in their season-opening classic in Monticello. They claimed victories against Cameron twice, Washburn and Newman. After four games the Cotton Blossoms leading offensive threat is Beth Johnson. She is hitting .417 with five hits in 12 at bats to go along with one RBI and a homerun. In the circle Monticello pitcher Randa Perry has started two of the four games. She has compiled a 1.00 ERA with two complete games and seven strikeouts. Through four games, the Cotton Blossoms are hitting .360 while holding their opponents to just .250.

Cameron University: The Aggies enter the week with a record of 1-3 overall after participating in the Hampton Inn Classic hosted by Arkansas-Monticello. Last season the Aggies posted an overall record of 17-32 and were 8-20 in the Lone Star Conference.

Arkansas Tech: The Golden Suns will open their 2013 season at the Southeastern Regional Invitational against Northeastern State (Okla.) and Missouri Southern Friday before facing the Jennies Saturday. Last season, Arkansas Tech posted a 16-31 overall record and were 8-18 in the Great American Conference.

Ouachita Baptist: The Tigers come into the week with an overall record of 2-2 after competing in the Hampton Inn Classic hosted by Arkansas-Monticello. Through four games Ouachita Baptist leading offensive player is Megan Askew. Askew is hitting .467 with seven hits in 15 at bats. She has one double, one homerun and has batted in five runs. The primary pitcher for the Tigers is Abbi Frakes. She has an ERA of 3.71 with two complete games and 14 strikeouts. Through four games, OBU is hitting .309 as a team while holding opponents to .301 hitting.

Southeastern Oklahoma: The host team for the Southeastern Regional enters the week at 3-2 overall after taking part in the St. Mary's Tournament in San Antonio, Texas. Through five games the Savage Storm's primary offensive threat is Whitney Hamilton. She has posted a .286 average, compiling four hits on 14 at bats. Hamilton has one double and one homerun, helping bat in seven runs. The primary starting pitcher for Southeastern Oklahoma through five games has been Mindy McElroy, who has a 4.61 ERA with five strikeouts.  Jacee Bennett has been a key reliever for the Savage Storm in their first five contests, posting a 2.37 ERA with 14 strikeouts and one save.

Henderson State: The Reddies enter the week at 1-5 overall after taking part in the Hampton Inn Classic hosted by Arkansas-Monticello and facing Central Baptist in a doubleheader in Arkadelphia, Ark.  

Series History
Arkansas-Monticello: This will be the second meeting between the Cotton Blossoms and Jennies on the diamond. The Jennies won the series first meeting last season when they took a 1-0 victory over then 12th ranked Arkansas-Monticello in Durant, Okla.

Cameron University: This will be the fourth meeting between the Aggies and the Jennies with the Jennies holding the 3-0 lead in the series. Last season the Jens defeated the Aggies in Durant, Okla. 8-0.

Arkansas Tech: This will be the fourth meeting all-time for the Jennies and the Golden Suns. The Jens trail the series 1-2. The last time the two teams met in 2010 the Golden Suns took both games of a doubleheader in Russellville, 9-0 and 10-7.

Ouachita Baptist: This will be the first meeting for the Jennies and the Tigers.  

Southeastern Oklahoma: This will be the seventh meeting between the Jennies and the Savage Storm. The series is currently tied a three with the Jens taking a 4-3 win last season in Durant.

Henderson State: This will be the fourth meeting between UCM and Henderson State. The Reddies hold a 1-2 lead in the series. The last time they met was 2010, with the Jennies falling to the Reddies in Arkadelphia, 1-0 and 7-1.


Last Time at Southeastern Regional Invitational (Formerly South Central Shootout)
    UCM competed last competed in the Southeastern Regional Invitational last season. The Jennies compiled a record of 5-0 in the event, winning games against Arkansas-Monticello, Cameron, Central Oklahoma, Texas Permian-Basin and Southeastern Oklahoma State.


Jennies in Season Openers
    Central Missouri has gone 27-10 in season openers since the 1976 season. Under Head Coach Susan Anderson the Jennies are 1-5 in season openers. The Jennies won their season opener last season, 1-0, against then No. 12 Arkansas-Monticello.


Non-Conference Games
    Central Missouri has been 774-565 in non-conference games since 1972, the beginning of softball at UCM. In the 'NCAA/MIAA Era' the Jennies have compiled a 630-442 non-conference mark. Anderson has a 102-94 record in non-conference contests.


Conference Games
    Central Missouri has posted a 224-123 MIAA mark since the inception of the conference in 1983. Under Anderson the Jennies are 63-33 in conference action.

Home Field Advantage
    Since the 1977 season, Central Missouri is 342-149 at home. Under Anderson, the Jennies are 58-20 at home. UCM has gone undefeated in the 2007 (8-0), 1991 (13-0), 1989 (8-0), and 1979 (6-0). Last season the Jennies were 8-8 at home.

On the Road
    Since 1977, UCM has posted a 212-194 mark on the road and a 420-314 record at neutral sites. Under Anderson the Jennies have gone 54-51 on the road and 72-70 at neutral sites.

Jennies Picked Sixth in MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
University of Central Missouri Jennies softball was picked sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll released Wednesday afternoon by the conference office in downtown Kansas City.

The Jennies are coming off a 27-30 campaign last season and finished tied for fourth in the MIAA at 9-11. The Jens return five position starters this season and four pitchers while also adding 10 new players.

Among the returners are 2012 All-MIAA honorable mention honorees Ashlea Bengtson (CF), Braylyn Bivens (IF), Alex Groeger (OF) and Jakki Prater (RHP/UT).

Defending MIAA regular season and tournament champion Emporia State was picked the team to beat by the league coaches, garnering 194 points and 12 first-place votes while MIAA newcomer Central Oklahoma was tabbed second with 177 points and three first-place votes. Missouri Western came in third in the poll with 176 points while the Tigers of Fort Hays State were fourth, compiling 153 points. The Gorillas of Pittsburg State round out the top five at fifth with 143 points. The Jennies had 128 points, placing sixth, while Washburn was picked seventh with 103 points. Northwest Missouri State came in eighth with 92 points and new MIAA member Northeastern State was ninth with 83 points. MIAA newcomer Nebraska-Kearney rounded out the top 10 with 81 points. The Lions of Missouri Southern were 11th with 77 points while Truman was tabbed 12th with 68 points in their final season as a member of the MIAA before moving to the Great Lakes Valley Conference. MIAA and Division II newcomer Lindenwood were tabbed 13th, compiling 52 points. Lincoln (25 points) and Southwest Baptist (23 points) round out the poll at 14th and 15th.

A Tradition of Excellence in the Athletic Arena
• At the conclusion of the fall 2012 athletic season, Central Missouri has won a combined 191 MIAA regular-season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• During the 2011-12 school year UCM captured seven MIAA regular season and three tournament championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 137 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won five national championships since 1980 (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, and women's bowling in 2003) and seven national championships overall.

A Tradition of Excellence in the Classroom
• The 500+ Central Missouri student-athletes received 245 Academic Awards from the MIAA office for the 2011-12 academic year.
• 195 UCM student-athletes were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• 32 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Scholar Athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA and having earned All-MIAA honors in their respective sport.
• 18 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had 10 student-athletes earn Academic All-America honors, including Shawn Boss being named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for Track & Field.

Upcoming Schedule...
    The Jennies will travel to Bentonville, Arkansas to participate in the Arkansas-Monticello Tournament February 15-17. The Jennies will face Henderson State and Southern Arkansas on the 15th before battling Ouachita Baptist and Southern Nazarene the 16th. They conclude the tournament the 17th with games against Oklahoma Panhandle and Southwestern Oklahoma State.