Jennies softball downs Drury University twice in Wednesday doubleheader
Jennies softball downs Drury University twice in Wednesday doubleheader
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WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- In the rescheduled doubleheader from March 5, the Jennies swept Drury University, 5-4 and 14-1 (five innings) to extend their win streak to four games on Wednesday at the South Recreation Complex. 

The Jennies got on the board quickly in game one on a two-run homerun to left by Jakki Prater, her 15th on the season. 

Drury's Kelsey James hit a homerun to lead off the top of the second inning and sent the game-tying shot over the fence in the top of the fourth with two outs. 

After Ali Jo Rogers reached base on a fielding error to lead off the fifth, she advanced to third on a single by Braylyn Bivens. Rogers scored the go-ahead run on the next at bat by Groeger, who hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, making it a 3-2 tally. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Drury took a 4-3 lead on an RBI double by Betsey Toalson, who would later score on a passed ball during an intentional walk during James' at-bat. 

Central Missouri answered with two of its own in the home half of the sixth on a two-out, two-run homerun by Jessica Neely to go ahead, 5-4. 

Pitcher Katie Shockley came in to relieve Prater after Shelby Cassity led off the inning with a single. Shockley went on to retire three of the next four batters, striking out a pair to earn her first save of the season. 

Lauren Mabe and Neely each went 2-for-3 in game one. 

Prater picked up the victory to improve to 11-5 on the season. The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and struck out two. Her homerun in game one moves her into sole possession of second place on the program's all-time list with 26. 

In game two, the Jennies put the game to rest early, scoring 11 runs in the first three innings. Prater hit a two-run single in the first, while Mabe smacked a two-run homer to centerfield to highlight the offensive outburst. 

Reigning MIAA Hitter of the Week, Lindsey Dawson put UCM ahead, 7-0 in the bottom of the second on an RBI single. She would pick up her second RBI of the game in the bottom of the third on a single to centerfield. 

Jill Lucas added the other two runs off the third inning on a homerun to left, her first of the season.

After Drury scored a run in the top of the fourth on bases loaded walk by Becca McDonald, UCM clinched the victory in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single by Alex Leonhart and an RBI groundout by Dawson, bumping its lead to 14-1. 

UCM starting pitcher Jessica Wilkes shut the door in the top of the fifth, forcing all three batters to fly out. Wilkes (1-5) picked up her first win of the season, allowing one run on three hits, striking out two and walking a pair. 

Dawson, Prater, Nally and Lucas all turned in multi-hit performances in game two. Dawson, Prater, Mabe, Leonhart and Lucas each drove in a pair of runs as well.

The Jennies will be back in action on Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Central Oklahoma at the South Recreation Complex. 
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