Prater Throws Gem as Jens Split Early Games in St. Cloud

PDF Box Score Game 1 | PDF Box Score Game 2 | Season Stats

ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Central Missouri softball played their first two of three games today at the Kelly Laas Memorial Dome Invitational in St. Cloud, Minn. UCM split the first two picking up a win over host St. Cloud State, 4-1, after dropping the early game to Minnesota State-Mankato, 6-0.

Game 1 - Minnesota State-Mankato 6, UCM 0

The Jennies struggled to find offense in game one against MSU. The Mavericks deployed reigning NSIC Pitcher of the Year in the circle, sophomore Coley Ries. Ries surrendered one hit and no runs in six innings, tossing a 6-0 shutout.

UCM's lone hit came from freshman Makayla Schoonover leading off the sixth. Schoonover then stole second, putting a runner in scoring position with nobody out. But Ries retired the next three batters to escape the inning unharmed. 

Sophomore Lauren Mabe reached base twice for UCM drawing a pair of walks.

Senior Katie Shockley pitched her third complete game of the young season. She went six innings and struck out five while giving up six runs on 12 hits.

Game 2 - UCM 4, St. Cloud State 1

Jakki Prater gave up a run in third inning but was dominant otherwise, striking out 10 over seven innings against St. Cloud State to improve to 2-1 on the year.

The Huskies held the Jennies scorless through five innings, but senior Amanda Nally lifted the team with a two-out, two-RBI single to give the Jens their first lead of the game, 2-1 midway through the sixth.

After Prater retired the side in the bottom half of the frame, the Jennies extended their lead with two more runs in the seventh.  Lindsey Dawson lined a one-out double and scored on an error, and Carlie Rose capped the inning with a solo home run, her first in a Jennies uniform.

Prater shut the door with a 1-2-3 seventh to complete the come-from-behind win.

Rose reached base in all four plate appearances going 3-for-3 with a walk, double and home run. She scored twice, drove in one, and also picked up a stolen base.

UCM has one more game left tonight. They'll square off with Concordia St. Paul at 9 p.m. The team will stay in St. Cloud tomorrow for a doubleheader against Augustana (S.D.) and Wayne St. (Neb.) starting at 5 p.m.