WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 17, 2017) - In their final week of the regular season, Central Missouri Jennies Softball started with a split of nonconference opponent William Jewell. The Jens won game one on a walk-off, 4-3, but were on the short side of a pitcher's duel in the nightcap, 1-0. UCM remains just a game under .500 at 24-25 with four games left in the regular season.
Game One: Central Missouri 4, William Jewell 3
The Jennies scored first and last in the opening game of their doubleheader with the Cardinals.
Alex Leonhart started the scoring plating
Courtni Smith with a double over the left fielder's head. Two batters later,
Allie Dishinger made it 2-0 scoring Leonhart with a single up the middle.
The lead didn't even last an inning though as the Cardinals quickly tied and took the lead. The first two batters of the inning reached on an error and came in to score the tying runs. The first five batters all reached base and UCM starter
Alexa Bradley did a good job of limiting the damage. An RBI single gave the Cardinals a 3-2 lead, but Bradley navigated around a bases-loaded jam to stop any further damage.
An inning later in the fourth, Dishinger came through again, tying the game with a two-out RBI double scoring birthday girl
Carlie Rose who led off with a single.
The score remained knotted at three until the final inning. It took just two batters for the Jennies to walk-off with a win.
Makayla Schoonover again played catalyst, gettign things started with a bunt single and steal of second on the very next pitch.
Hailey Crabtree's hot shot to second couldn't be handed cleanly and Schoonover raced around to score the game-winning run.
Bradley got the win tossing all seven innings. She gave up three runs (one earned) with two walks and two strikeouts on four hits. Dishinger and Schoonover each finished with two hits. Schoonover scored a run and stole two bases, Dishinger drove home a pair.
Sarah Lewis started for the Cardinals. She pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Sydne Brashear knocked in two runs and Madi Giles had a double and a run.
Game Two: William Jewell 1, Central Missouri 0
William Jewell made their first inning run hold up, in another pitcher's duel. It's the Jens second 1-0 loss in their last six games. Giles led off the game getting hit by a pitch. One batter later, she came around to score on a triple off the bat of Brooke Bernard.
After that, Jennies pitcher
Katie Giacone allowed just four more hits and no runs, taking the hard-luck loss. She struke out four in seven innings of work.
Cardinal starter Anna Biondo pitched all seven innings, allowing no runs on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
The Jens best chance came in their final turn at bat. Smith led off the inning with a single to right. A bunt moved her up to second and an infield single and four-pitch walk loaded the bases with two outs. Biondo ended the game with her sixth strikeout as pinch hitter
Alexis Koop swung through a letter-high fastball.
Smith and
Aubrey Daniel each picked up two of the Jens' six hits. Smith also stole her eighth base of the season.
Central Missouri will stay at home for the final two doubleheaders of the regular season. The Jens penultimate DH will come against Lincoln, scheduled for Friday, April 21 at 3 p.m.
