OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (April 27, 2017) - Central Missouri suffered a pair of losses at the MIAA Championship, ousting them from the Tournament. The Jens dropped their first game 11-2 to Northwest Missouri, before falling 3-1 to Southwest Baptist, closing the book on the 2017 season. Their 28-27 record is their fifth straight winning season.
Game One - Northwest Missouri 11, Central Missouri 2 - 5 innings
The Jennies got behind early to the Bearcats. With two outs, Abigail Gilson launched a grand slam to dead center, scoring four unearned runs and UCM never recovered.
Central Missouri scored twice in the bottom of the third, once on a Bearcat error and their second run on an RBI groundout, but NWMSU scored five in the third and two in the fifth, ending the game after five innings.
Katie Giacone started and pitched two innings. She gave up six runs (two earned) with just three hits, and suffered the loss.
Alexa Bradley entered and pitched three innings in relief, surrendering five runs on nine hits.
The Jens scratched out five hits, two each from Mabe and
Hailey Crabtree.
Taylor Blackford got the win for Northwest. She gave up two unearned runs in five innings with a walk and six strikeouts. Gilson finished 4-for-4 with seven RBI.
Game Two - Southwest Baptist 3, Central Missouri 1
It was a pitcher's duel to start the game between Giacone and Kacey Ayers. Central Missouri broke through first with an RBI single from
Aubrey Daniel, one batter after Mabe was thrown out trying to score from second.
The lead held until the sixth inning when things fell apart. Giacone allowed a single and a walk before Bradley entered. Back-to-back RBI singles gave the Bearcats the lead. They scored their third and final run on a throwing error.
Central Missouri had a chance to add to their lead in the sixth.
Courtni Smith led off the frame with a double, but was left stranded at third. Smith finished the game with two hits.
Carlie Rose scored the Jennies lone run, while Daniel finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Giacone took the loss pitching five innings and allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Bradley worked the sixth allowing an unearned run on two hits with a strikeouts.
Ayers went the distance allowing an unearned run on seven hits with five strikeouts. Dana Graves went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
