Scene Setter...
The Jennies softball team (19-13, 7-5 MIAA) embarks on an eight-game road trip from April 1-11. The Jennies are coming off a 4-2 week, sweeping Drury University and Northeastern State, while falling twice at the hands of Central Oklahoma. 
     UCM's first trip will take them to Washburn where they will battle the Ichabods in a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday, April 1. The team's next stop features a date with the Lincoln Blue Tigers in Jefferson City on Friday, April 4 for a 2 p.m. doubleheader. The Lindenwood Lady Lions await the Jennies for a 12 p.m. double-dip on Saturday, April 5 in St. Charles.
     The Jennies lineup is littered with six players batting .300 or better. Freshman utility player Lindsey Dawson leads the way with a .394 average in 30 games. The Lake St. Louis, Mo. native is also in a second-place tie with 21 RBI's. Fellow freshman first baseman Lauren Mabe hit .357 in eight games last week, blasting two homeruns with five RBI's and three runs scored. 
     Junior utility player Jakki Prater hit her team-leading 15th homerun last week and has driven in a team-best 39 runs. The homerun was the 26th of her career, bumping her into sole-possession of second place in Jennies history. Prater is four longballs short of tying Kelli Kurka for first on UCM's all-time homerun list. Prater is also one homerun short of tying Rachel Adam's single-season record of 16 homeruns in 2006. 
     In the circle, Prater and junior Jessica Wilkes both tossed complete games last week, combining for three victories. 

Scouting the Opponents:
Washburn Ichabods
Overall Record entering the weekend: 15-14, 7-5 MIAA
Key hitters: Marina Quimby (.402, four HR's, 17 RBI's, 22 runs, four 2B's, SB in 92 at-bats), Katie Schroeder (.375, three four HR's, 27 RBI's, 30 runs, seven 2B's, four 3B's, five SB's in 96 at-bats), Samantha Carson (.346, seven HR's, 27 RBI's, five 2B's, 3B, SB, 28 runs in 104 at-bats).
Key pitcher(s): Lauren Thimmesch (4.36 ERA, 7-4 record, 62.2 IP, 32 K's, four CG's), Samantha Carson (4.57 ERA, 6-2 record, 56.2 IP, 27 K's, seven CG's).
Team stats: Batting average - .314, Opponents - .328
Head Coach: Vanessa Becerra (third season, 47-71 record)

Lincoln Blue Tigers
Overall Record entering the week: 3-24, 0-14 MIAA
Key hitters: Sam Kircher (.333, six HR's, 15 RBI's, eight runs, four doubles, two SB's in 69 at-bats), Shantae Duren (.292, HR, nine RBI's, four doubles, four runs in 72 at-bats).
Key pitcher(s): Jessica Cook (7.56 ERA, 2-12 record, 79.2 IP, 55 K's, five CG's).
Team stats: Batting average - .203, Opponents - .408
Head Coach: Nicole Stacey (fifth season, 92-226-1 record) 

Lindenwood Lady Lions
Overall Record entering the week: 11-14, 5-5 MIAA
Key hitters: Courtney Opich (.463, four HR's, 18 RBI's, 10 runs, eight 2B's, 3B, two SB's in 54 at-bats), Courtney Kitson (.393, seven RBI's, 15 runs two doubles, five SB's in 61 at-bats), Hannah Braun (.339, six RBI's, 13 runs, four doubles, six SB's). 
Key pitcher(s): Kendall Ryndak (2.58 ERA, 4-5 record, 59.2 IP, 65 K's, six CGs, shutout), Morgan Colvis (3.59 ERA, 6-5 record, 68.1 IP, 45 K, six CGs, shutout). 
Team stats: Batting average - .283, Opponents - .305
Head Coach: Don Loberg (ninth season, 225-206 record) 

Series History
Washburn: The Jennies lead the all-time series, 44-37. The teams split the season series in 2013. Washburn won, 6-3, while the Jennies won 13-5 in five innings in Warrensburg.

Lincoln: The Jennies lead the all-time series, 52-3. The Jennies and Blue TIgers split the series last season, 1-1 in Jefferson City.

Lindenwood: The Jennies lead the all-time series, 6-4. The Jennies have lost four of the last five meetings overall, including both games last season in Warrensburg, 6-5, 7-4. 

Non-Conference Games
    Central Missouri has been 794-581 in non-conference games since 1972, the beginning of softball at UCM. In the 'NCAA/MIAA Era' the Jennies have compiled a 650-458 non-conference mark. Anderson has a 122-110 record in non-conference contests. This season, UCM is 12-8 against non-conference opponents. 

Conference Games
    Central Missouri has posted a 244-141 MIAA mark since the inception of the conference in 1983. Under Anderson the Jennies are 83-49 in conference action. The Jennies are 7-5 in conference action in 2014.

Home Field Advantage
    Since the 1977 season, Central Missouri is 358-159 at home. Under Anderson, the Jennies are 71-29 at home. UCM has gone undefeated in the 2007 (8-0), 1991 (13-0), 1989 (8-0), and 1979 (6-0). UCM is 7-3 in home games this season. 

On the Road
    Since 1977, UCM has posted a 224-206 mark on the road and a 431-321 record at neutral sites. Under Anderson the Jennies have gone 66-63 on the road and 84-80 at neutral sites. This season, the Jennies are 5-4 in road games and 7-6 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 are off until Friday, April 11 when they travel to Southwest Baptist for a 2 p.m. doubleheader. They will close out next weekend with a 1 p.m. doubleheader with the Bearcats in Warrensburg on Saturday, April 12.