Scene Setter...
The Jennies will retake the diamond this Saturday and Sunday in Joplin, Mo. after two weeks off to participate in the Border Battle Tournament hosted by Missouri Southern.
UCM will open play Saturday at noon against Nebraska-Kearney before facing the host Missouri Southern Lions at 2 p.m. to round out day one. Sunday, the Jennies will battle William Jewell at 10 a.m. and conclude the tournament with a game against Missouri Western at 2 p.m. Although three Jennies opponents are MIAA conference members, the three games will not count towards the conference standings.
In their last action on the field February 15-17, the Jennies went 3-3 in the UAM 7-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. UCM fell to Henderson State, 4-3, before defeating Southern Arkansas, 8-3 Friday. Saturday the Jens rolled to a 12-2 win over Ouachita Baptist before they lost to Southern Nazarene 11-1. The Jennies finished out the tournament Sunday with a 4-3 win over Oklahoma Panhandle before falling to Southwestern Oklahoma 7-3.
Scouting the Opponents:
Nebraska-Kearney Lopers
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Overall Record entering the week: 3-7
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Key hitters: Samantha Liebman (.133, 3 RBIs, 1 HR, 2 hits in 15 at bats)
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Key pitcher(s): Becky Dunn (3.00 ERA, 1-2 record, 2 CG, 1 SHO, 14 IP, 13 K)
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Team stats: Batting average - .187, Opponents - .271
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Head Coach: Holly Carnes (13th season, 259-277 record)
Missouri Southern Lions
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Overall Record entering the week: 11-4
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Key hitters: Shelby Romines (.438, 18 RBIs, 6 HRs, 1 triple, 6 doubles, 21 hits in 48 at bats)
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Key pitcher(s): Haley Pypes (4.11 ERA, 4-1 record, 30.2 IP, 2 CG, 27 K)
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Team stats: Batting average - .298, Opponents - .240
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Head Coach: Bill Gray (5th season, 91-132-1 record)
William Jewell Cardinals
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Overall Record entering the week: 4-4
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Key hitters: Rachel Hayden (.364, 9 RBIs, 1 HR, 2 triples, 1 double, 8 hits on 22 at bats)
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Key pitcher(s): Faith Song (3.44 ERA, 2-1 record, 18.1 IP, 10 K)
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Team stats: Batting average - .308, Opponents - .276
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Head Coach: Dustin Combs (7th season)
Missouri Western Griffons
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Overall Record entering the week: 11-5
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Key hitters: Keri Lorbert (.261, 16 RBIs, 6 HRs, 12 hits in 46 at bats)
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Key pitcher(s): Jackie Bishop (1.74 ERA, 6-1 record, 7 CG, 1 SV, 52.1 IP, 67 K)
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Team stats: Batting average - .305, Opponents - .239
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Head Coach: Jen Bagley (12th season, 377-241 record)
Series History
Nebraska-Kearney: This will be the seventh meeting between the Jennies and the Lopers. The Jennies trail the series 1-5. The last time they met was 1998 when the Jennies fell to the Lopers, 1-0.
Missouri Southern: This will be the 86th meeting between the Jens and the Lions. The Jennies lead the series 49-36. Last season the Jennies swept the Lions in a home doubleheader, 8-0 and 4-1.
William Jewell: This will be the 11th meeting between the Jennies and the Cardinals. The Jens hold a 9-1 advantage in the series. The last time the two teams met in 2006 the Jennies defeated William Jewell 5-1.
Missouri Western: This will be the 77th meeting between the Jennies and the Griffons. The Jennies lead the series 49-27. Last season the Jennies dropped a home doubleheader to the Griffons, 5-1 and 8-2, as well as an MIAA Softball Tournament contest, 8-5.
Snowed Out
The Jennies have not played in two weeks due to the large amount of snow the state of Missouri received. Central Missouri was slated to play in the Teri Mathis-Zenner Memorial Tournament last Friday and Saturday but the tournament was canceled due to snow in Joplin, Mo.
Non-Conference Games
Central Missouri has been 780-571 in non-conference games since 1972, the beginning of softball at UCM. In the 'NCAA/MIAA Era' the Jennies have compiled a 636-448 non-conference mark. Anderson has a 108-100 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 75-73 at neutral sites.
The 300 Club
The Jennies currently have five players batting above .300.
Alex Groeger leads the team at .394 with 13 hits in 33 at bats.
Ashlea Bengtson is second, batting .371 with 13 hits on 35 at bats. Bengtson leads the team in RBIs with 10 to along with two home runs.
Braylyn Bivens is hitting .342 with 13 hits in 38 at bats and has a team-high three doubles while
Jordan Marble is batting .333 with nine at bats and three hits.
Jakki Prater rounds out the 300 club for the Jens, batting .303 with 10 hits in 33 at bats. She is second on the team in RBIs with seven and also has hit two home runs.
Bivens Base Running
Infielder
Braylyn Bivens continues to be a threat to opponents on base she has successfully stolen seven bases on eight attempts so far in 2013. She led the MIAA in stolen bases last season, going 25-28.
In the Circle
Jennies sophomore pitcher
Jakki Prater is 4-1 in the circle to start out the 2013 season. She has a 2.89 ERA in 36.1 innings pitched and has thrown four complete games. The Nixa, Mo. native also has an impressive 29 strikeouts through her first six appearances.
Jennies Softball Online
For up-to-date live statistics for all home Jennies softball games visit
www.UCMathletics.com. Also, a student-run, pay-per-view webcast will be available for select Jennies home games via AmericaOneSports.com and the UCM Media Network.
A Tradition of Excellence in the Athletic Arena
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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.
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During the 2011-12 school year UCM captured seven MIAA regular season and three tournament championships.
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Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 137 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
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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.
Upcoming Schedule...
The Jennies are slated to host Missouri S&T in their first home doubleheader of the season Wednesday, March 13 (weather permitting) at the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg beginning at 3 p.m.
