Scene Setter...
The Jennies (10-8, 5-3 MIAA) will travel to Missouri S&T on Wednesday, March 19 for a 2 p.m. doubleheader after opening their 2014 home slate last weekend with three wins in four games. After dropping the first game to Missouri Western, 6-2 on Friday, the Jens won the next three games, scoring 25 runs in those contests. It's the second time this season UCM has won three consecutive games (Feb. 14-15 against Quincy, Henderson State, William Jewell College).
Last weekend, the Jennies hit .297 as a team, led by sophomore
Kristen Heil, who hit .385 (5-for-13) with a solo homerun and scored two runs. Senior
Alex Groeger went 6-for-16 (.375) with three RBI's and two doubles. Junior
Jakki Prater slammed two homeruns, giving her 11 on the season and added 5 RBI's. Senior infielder
Braylyn Bivens returned to action after missing the past eight games, hitting .286 (4-for-14) with five RBI's and four runs.
Junior pitcher
Katie Shockley picked up two victories last weekend, tossing two complete games and striking out 11 batters. Opponents hit just .180 against Shockley in her two starts.
Jennies head coach
Susan Anderson is one win shy of 400 in her college coaching career.
Scouting the Opponent:
Missouri S&T Lady Miners
Overall Record entering the week: 3-8
Key hitters: Andi Davis (.342, RBI, 4 HRs, 5 runs, double in 38 at-bats), Savanna Fedorchak (.286, 2 RBI's, double, in 28 at-bats)
Key pitcher(s): Becca Strope (2.03 ERA, 2-3 record, 41.1 IP, 22 K, 4 CGs, 2 shutouts), Amber Duncan (3.75 ERA, 1-5 record, 28.0 IP, 18 K, 2 CGs).
Team stats: Batting average - .212, Opponents - .270
Head Coach: Don Kennedy (7th season, 134-170 record)
Series History
Missouri S&T: The Jennies lead the all-time series, 47-21 and have won the past three meetings overall. Last season, the Jennies swept the Lady Miners, 5-4 and 6-5 in a doubleheader in Warrensburg on March 13, 2013.
Braylyn Bivens went 4-for-8 with an RBI and a run in those games.
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 242-139 MIAA mark since the inception of the conference in 1983. Under Anderson the Jennies are 81-47 in conference action.
Home Field Advantage
Since the 1977 season, Central Missouri is 354-157 at home. Under Anderson, the Jennies are 67-27 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.
Inside the Numbers
Through 18 games the Jennies are hitting .312 as a team, while their opponents are batting .298. The Jennies go for their fourth consecutive win, which would be the longest win streak since March 13-16, 2013 when UCM won five in a row. UCM is one of seven schools batting .300 or higher as a team.
The Jennies are paced offensively by
Jakki Prater with 11 homeruns and 26 RBIs, to go with four doubles in 65 at bats. Her 11 homeruns, 26 RBI's and 61 total bases all rank second in the MIAA.
Alex Groeger has stroked eight doubles this season, second-most in the conference. UCM is fourth in the MIAA with 32 doubles through 18 games.
Ali Jo Rogers leads the Jennies with 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts.
In the circle, Prater leads the Jens, posting a 3.88 ERA with a 7-3 record in 11 apperances and four starts. She owns the team's only shutout.
Katie Shockley leads UCM with 31 strikeouts and three complete games.
As a team, the Jennies have an ERA of 5.25 while their opponents ERA is 5.84.
Jennies in the MIAA Statistics
The Jennies are fifth in team batting in the MIAA with an average of .312, third in slugging percentage (.484) and tied for fourth in runs (118) and are fourth in doubles (32).
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 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.
