The Jennies (7-7, 2-2 MIAA) split a four-game road trip last weekend, losing twice at Fort Hays State before sweeping Nebraska-Kearney. The Jens make their 2014 home debut on Friday, March 14 against the Missouri Western Griffons for a 4 p.m. doubleheader. UCM closes out the weekend with a 1 p.m. twinbill with the Northwest Missouri Bearcats on Saturday, March 15.
Junior utility player
Jakki Prater is second in the MIAA in homeruns (9) and third in RBI's (21). In the pitching circle, Prater made nine appearances, posting a 6-2 record and a 4.09 ERA. The Nixa, Mo. native tossed her first complete game shutout of the season in a 5-0 win against Nebraska-Kearney on Monday. Junior pitcher
Katie Shockley picked up her first win of the season last Sunday at UNK, going the distance, while allowing six hits, two runs (both earned), walking three and fanning three.
Scouting the Opponents:
Missouri Western Griffons
Overall Record entering the week: 11-9, 1-5 MIAA
Key hitters: Tiffany Gillaspy (.368, 9 RBIs, 4 HRs, 15 runs, 3 stolen bases in 57 at-bats), Taylor Anding (.345, 3 HRs, 9 RBI's, 11 runs in 55 at-bats), Kat Steponovich (.275, 2 HRs, 15 RBI's, 2 doubles, 5 runs in 40 at-bats).
Key pitcher(s): Jackie Bishop (1.23 ERA, 7-3 record, 74.0 IP, 83 K, 10 CGs, 4 shutouts).
Team stats: Batting average - .287, Opponents - .227
Head Coach: Jen Bagley (13th season, 426-266 record)
Northwest Missouri Bearcats
Overall Record entering the week: 4-11, 1-5 MIAA
Key hitters: Stephanie Mark (.400, 2 HRs, 11 RBIs, 2 doubles, 4 runs in 50 at-bats), Chantel Adams (.367, 3 HR's, 12 RBI's, 9 runs, 2 doubles in 49 at-bats), Jordan Ereth (.352, 12 runs, 3 stolen bases in 54 at-bats).
Key pitcher(s): Abbie Vitosh (5.62 ERA, 1-5 record, 2 CGs, 37.1 IP, 16 K's), Sarah Baldin (6.64 ERA, 3-3 record, 2 CGs, 32.2 IP, 28 K's).
Team stats: Batting average - .295, Opponents - .291
Head Coach: Ryan Anderson (8th season, 288-256 record)
Series History
Missouri Western: The Jennies lead the all-time series, 51-27. Last season, the Jennies swept Missouri Western in St. Joseph by scores of 3-1 and 2-0. Missouri Western has won the last two games in Warrensburg.
Northwest Missouri: The Bearcats lead the all-time series, 59-50. The two teams split the season series last year in Platte City, Mo. The Jennies won 9-6 and the Bearcats won 13-4. UCM has won its last four home games against Northwest Missouri.
Non-Conference Games
Central Missouri has been 787-578 in non-conference games since 1972, the beginning of softball at UCM. In the 'NCAA/MIAA Era' the Jennies have compiled a 643-455 non-conference mark. Anderson has a 115-107 record in non-conference contests.
Conference Games
Central Missouri has posted a 239-138 MIAA mark since the inception of the conference in 1983. Under Anderson the Jennies are 78-46 in conference action.
Home Field Advantage
Since the 1977 season, Central Missouri is 351-156 at home. Under Anderson, the Jennies are 64-26 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 9-7 at home.
On the Road
Since 1977, UCM has posted a 222-206 mark on the road and a 426-318 record at neutral sites. Under Anderson the Jennies have gone 64-63 on the road and 81-77 at neutral sites. This season, the Jennies are 3-4 in road games and 4-3 in neutral site games.
Jennies Picked Seventh in MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
The Jennies softball team is predicted to finish seventh in the 2014 MIAA preseason poll as picked by the league coaches. The Jennies received 95 total points in the poll, which was released Friday, January 31.
Central MIssouri finished the 2013 season with a 24-22 record, 14-14 in MIAA competition. The Jennies return 10 players, headlined by 2013 second-team All-MIAA infielder
Braylyn Bivens.
Central Oklahoma was a unanimous selection to repeat as regular season MIAA champions, receiving all 13 possible first-place votes. The Bronchos totaled 169 points in the preseason poll. Missouri Western received the other first-place vote, totaling 156 points to finish second. Fort Hays State (138 points), Emporia State (130) and Northeastern State (115) round out the top five.
A Tradition of Excellence in the Athletic Arena
• At the conclusion of the fall 2013 athletic season, Central Missouri has won a combined 193 MIAA regular-season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• During the 2012-13 school year UCM captured three MIAA regular season and one tournament championship.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director
Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 139 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 550 Central Missouri student-athletes received 375 Academic Awards from the MIAA office for the 2012-13 academic year.
• 305 UCM student-athletes were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• 37 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.
• 33 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had eight student-athletes earn Academic All-America honors in their respective sports, including Brent Vogel being named the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for Men's Track & Field.
Upcoming Schedule...
The Jennies will embark on an eight-game road trip from March 18-23. They will play Missouri S&T on Tuesday, March 18 then will make their way to St. Joseph, Mo. for the Missouri Western Regional Crossover. UCM will play Wayne State College and Augustana College on March 21. Action on March 22 has them slated to play St. Cloud State and Missouri Southern. The tournament will culminate with a pair of games with Northern State and Concordia University, St. Paul on Sunday, March 23.
