Season Stats | PDF Box Score
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Jennies softball won their opening round game at the NCAA Regional Championships against Missouri Western (36-20).
UCM was down 2-0 early, but came back with a six-run sixth to claim a 7-2 victory. The win marks the first in an NCAA postseason game since 1997.
The win moves the Jennies to 45-14 on the year and puts them in the winner's bracket for tomorrow's round two game against ().
Missouri Western got on the board first, scoring a run three batters into the game. Tiffany Gillaspy hit a double over the left fielder's head to score Morgan Rothmann. The Griffons added a run in the fourth on a home run from Paige Schifflett to lead off the frame.
The Jennies offense struggled at the outset, knocking only three hits in the first four innings, two were infield singles from
Carlie Rose.
UCM played small ball to cut the lead in half. With one out,
Makayla Schoonover found a hole just wide of the first base bag for a single. She then stole second and scored on
Lindsey Dawson's two-out RBI single to center.
In the sixth, the Jennies sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs on six hits.
Katie Giacone put the Jennies ahead for good when she blasted a three-run home run to straight away center field. UCM added three more in the inning when Dawson's deep drive to left field was dropped and
Lauren Mabe plated the seventh run with an RBI single.
Katie Shockley threw a complete game to earn her 23
rd win of the season. She allowed four hits and two runs with for strikeouts, giving her 302 for her career.
Giacone had the biggest hit, as she went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Rose was 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. Dawson finished with two RBI.
The Jennies ran all over the Griffons swiping six bags.
Ali Jo Rogers led the barrage with three while Schoonover stole two and Rose one.
UCM will play in the first game tomorrow afternoon against Henderson State, who defeated Arkansas Tech in game No. 2 today. The winner of that game will advance to the championship on Sunday, while the loser plays an elimination game later in the evening. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
