Season Stats |
Box ScoreST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Jennies held Minnesota State-Mankato scoreless through five innings and held a two-run lead into the seventh, but couldn't hold on, eventually falling 6-4 to the Mavericks in 10 innings. The loss is the second this season to MSU and puts the Jens record at 18-8.
In February, the Mavericks held the Jennies to just one hit over seven scoreless innings. UCM bettered that in the first inning Sunday scoring a run on two hits.
Ali Jo Rogers and
Jakki Prater each doubled giving the Jens an early 1-0 lead.
The two teams were mired in a pitching dual after that as Prater and Mavericks starter Libby Bemis kept throwing up zeroes. The Jennies threatened in the third, loading the bases with nobody out, but the big hit eluded them as the Mavericks escaped the jam.
UCM added to their lead in the fifth, as
Lindsey Dawson scored on an RBI ground out and
Alex Leonhart singled home Prater, putting the Jennies up 3-0 after five complete innings.
Prater pitched herself into trouble in the sixth, but escaped allowing just one run. MSU loaded the bases with one out and scored on a sacrifice fly. Prater coaxed a fly ball from the next batter, keeping the Jennies ahead 3-1.
After Prater struck out the first two batters in the seventh, the Mavericks were down to their final at bat. A single extended the inning and Jess Meidl hit a home run to left center to tie the game at three.
UCM had a chance to win it in the ninth, again loading the bases with just one out. But a line out and a ground out kept the Jennies off the scoreboard and the game went to extra innings.
With tournament rules placing a runner on second base starting in the eighth inning, the Mavericks plated a run without the benefit of a hit. A ground out moved the runner to third and MSU took their first lead, 4-3, on a sacrifice fly.
The Jennies answered in the bottom of the frame also scoring without collecting a hit.
Amanda Nally moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at four apiece.
Both teams were scoreless in the ninth inning before the Mavericks broke out for two in the 10th, scoring on an RBI single and a Jennies error.
UCM put the tying run on base with nobody out, but the Mavericks retired all three batters that followed, completing the comeback with a 6-4 win in 10.
Prater threw all 10 innings for the Jennies for the second time this season. She allowed six runs (three earned) on only six hits with two strikeouts. Prater was also 2-for-5 at the plate with a run and an RBI.
UCM totaled seven hits in the game, two coming from Leonhart. She also collected an RBI and is batting .520 (13-for-25) in her last eight games.
The Jennies will return home to the South Recreation Complex for a midweek doubleheader against Missouri S&T on Wednesday, March 25. Game one starts at 3 p.m.
