WARRENSBURG, Mo. - Looking to snap their four game losing streak, the Jennies jumped on top of MIAA leading Pittsburg State with a five-run first inning to give the Gorillas their first conference loss of the season, 5-2, in game one. Staked to another early lead in game two, the Gorillas managed to tie the game in the seventh before winning in the 10th, 7-5. The split moves the Jennies to 21-19 this season and 10-8 in the MIAA.
Game One: Central Missouri 5, Pittsburg State 2Jennies starter
Allison Tonyan pitched 5.1 innings of no-hit ball after the Jennies gave her an early 5-0 lead. Tonyan ended up throwing seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
The Jennies were geared up out of the gates, scoring five first-inning runs. After
Ali Jo Rogers walked to lead off the frame,
Emily King launched her fifth home run of the season well over the left field fence and UCM was up 2-0 just two batters into the ball game.
Central Missouri added three more in the inning getting RBI singles from
Emily Robinson and
Alexis Koop.
The Jennies offense had opportunities to add late in the game, but left two runners on base in the fourth and left the bags full in the sixth.
Insurance runs weren't needed though as Tonyan took over after being handed the lead, outdualing the MIAA wins leader, Emmie Robertson. The Gorillas earned their first hit in the sixth and broke Tonyan's shutout bid in the seventh as Nicole Nease led off the inning with a home run to center. Pitt State scored another run on a wild pitch and brought the tying run to the plate. But King picked off a low line drive off the bat of Ashton Pratt to secure the victory.
The Jennies managed just four hits in the game but made them count. King finished 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. Robinson and Koop were each 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI.
Gorilla starter Robertson was wild throughout the game. She pitched six innings allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits with seven strikeouts and seven walks. Nease finished 1-for-3 with the solo home run in the seventh.
Game Two: Pittsburg State 7, Central Missouri 5 - 10 inningsOnce again the Jennies opened with a five-run first inning, but this time couldn't hold it as the bats went cold and the Gorillas chipped away at the lead.
Pittsburg State was down to their final at-bat of the ball game when Katy Remy came through with a two-out home run to tie the game at five.
Both Jennies starter Robinson and PSU starter Morgan Myers were matching zeros in extras, but PSU finally broke through in the 10th, when international tie breaker rule are in effect, with an RBI single from Kylie Guthier and scored a second run on a wild pitch.
Central Missouri was able to get the tying run into scoring position with one out, but a pop up and line drive caught in foul territory squashed the rally.
The Jennies again scored all their runs in the first inning. The scoring started when
Alex Leonhart drove in two with a single to right center. Two more came around to score on
Allie Dishinger's RBI single and a
Brittany Kendall RBI groundout completed the five-run first inning.
PSU got a run back in the second on a Catie Cummins two-out RBI single. They scored three in the sixth after the first four batters all reached base.
Robinson went the distance, throwing all 10 innings, tied for third most since 2003 (when digital statistics started being kept). She allowed seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits while striking out eight, one shy of her career-high and walking three. Robinson was also one of four Jennies with two hits.
Leonhart, Koop and
Lauren Mabe all collected two hits in the game. Leonhart also scored a run and drove in two.
Myers matched Robinson throwing all 10 innings. She gave up five runs (three earned) on 10 hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Guthier reached base in all five plate appearances with three hits and two walks, an RBI and two runs scored.
The Jennies remain at home this weekend for a doubleheader with the Oklahoma schools. First Northeastern State travels to Warrensburg Friday, April 8 for a 3 p.m. start. UCM then welcomes Central Oklahoma Saturday, April 9 with a 12 p.m. first pitch. The Jennies will also be celebrating Senior Day Saturday afternoon.
