ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (March 19, 2017) - Central Missouri wrapped up the Missouri Western "Hy-Vee" Regional Crossover, splitting the final day with a win over Minnesota-Duluth and loss to Augustana. The Jens went 4-2 over the three-day weekend of games against the Northern Sun and stand at 11-16 for the season.
Game Two: Central Missouri 4, Minnesota-Duluth 2
Jordan Johnson hadn't pitched in over a month, but came back to face a tough Minnesota-Duluth Bulldog squad. She earned her third win of the season pitching 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.
The Jennies offense got their run scoring out of the way early.
Lauryn Deer led off the bottom of the first with a triple and two batters later scored on a passed ball.
UCM added three an inning later playing a bit of small ball. The Jennies scored three runs with only one hit and without a ball reaching the outfield.
Carlie Rose executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt, allowing pinch-runner
Alexis Koop to score. Rose and
Alex Leonhart then performed a double-steal with Leonhart swiping home for the Jennies' second run. Rose herself then scored after three straight walks to Jennies batters.
The rest was all pitching. Johnson was cruising until hitting a bit of trouble in the fifth. A two-out, two-RBI single cut the Jennies lead in half, 4-2 and spelled the end of the afternoon for Johnson.
Katie Giacone came in in relief to get a strikeout to end the inning.
Giacone then put two runners on to start the sixth, but worked out of that jam before giving way to
Alexa Bradley to toss the seventh. With Bulldogs on second and third and two outs, Bradley earned her fourth save of the year, getting a line out to end the game. The four saves are the most for a Jennies pitcher since Megan Leonard in 2009. The all-time single season record is five, done in four different seasons.
The Jennies totaled just three hits in the game, but walked five times and successfully moved runners over. Deer finished 1-for-2 with a single and a walk.
Allie Dishinger reached base three times with two walks and a hit by pitch.
Ashley Taipale threw all six innings for UMD. She gave up four runs on three hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Hannah Schmoll drove in both Bulldog runs with her single in the fifth. Becky Smith finished 2-for-4.
Game One: Augustana 1, Central Missouri 0
Before picking up her fourth save of the season, Bradley was locked in a pitcher's dual with Lexy Pederson of Augustana in the Jennies first game of the day. In the end, the only blemish against Bradley came via an unearned run in the third, but that was enough for Pederson and Vikings who took a 1-0 win.
Central Missouri threatened early, getting a hit and two walks in the opening frame. Deer led off the game with a single, but was thrown out trying to steal.
Makayla Schoonover then drew a walk and was successful in her steal attempt, reaching second base. With two outs, the Vikings intentionally walked
Lauren Mabe, the first of three times the Vikings intentionally gave Mabe the free pass.
Alex Leonhart grounded out to end the inning.
The Jens had an even better opportunity in the second, loading the bases with one out. Deer put a charge into one, but the line drive found the shortstop's glove, who was able to double off
Carlie Rose at third base, ending the threat.
Augustana's run in the third came following a one out Sarah Kennedy double. It looked like Bradley was going to get out of the inning thanks to back-to-back ground balls, but a two-out error allowed Kennedy to cross the plate with the game's only run.
Central Missouri left two runners on base again in the third and fifth innings as the big hit eluded them against Pederson.
Schoonover was able to find success against the Vikings' aces reaching base in all four plate appearances with two hits and two walks. She also stole two more bases, giving her 55 for her career which moves her into fifth-place all-time at Central Missouri. Her 13 this season are currently third in the MIAA.
The Vikings plan to not let Mabe beat them worked. She came to the plate three times with runners on base, and was intentionally walked all three times.
Bradley's final line was one unearned run on seven hits in seven innings. She struckout out four without issuing a walk.
Pederson collected the win going seven innings, giving up five hits. She walked six and struck out two. At the plate, Kennedy knocked three hits and scored the game's only run.
From here on out, it will only be double-headers for the Jennies in the regular season. They have a quick turnaround and will travel to Joplin Wednesday, March 22 to take on Missouri Southern. First pitch is schedule for 2 p.m.
