WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 19, 2019) - Central Missouri Jennies Softball continues a busy week. They'll play eight games over four days, starting with an MIAA doubleheader.
Opponents
Missouri Southern Lions (9-10, 2-4 MIAA)
Minnesota State Mavericks (12-6)
Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears (11-6)
St. Cloud State Huskies (17-3)
Sioux Falls Cougars (10-8)
Upper Iowa Peacocks (7-5)
Wayne State Wildcats (8-6)
Where
Joplin, Mo. - at Missouri Southern
Emporia, Kan. - Emporia State Softball Classic
When
Wednesday, March 20 at Missouri Southern - 2 p.m.
Thursday, March 21 vs. Minnesota State - 2 p.m.
Thursday, March 21 vs. Concordia-St. Paul - 4:30 p.m.
Friday, March 22 vs. St. Cloud State - 10 a.m.
Friday, March 22 vs. Sioux Falls - 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 vs. Upper Iowa - 10 a.m.
Saturday, March 23 vs. Wayne State (Neb.) - 3 p.m.
Leading Off
• Central Missouri continues with MIAA play this week taking on Missouri Southern in Joplin. UCM played their first conference games on Monday splitting on the road with Missouri Western.
• Due to a schedule change, the Jennies will play the HyVee Missouri Western Crossover in Emporia, Kan. against six Northern Sun teams. The days have also been changed from Friday-Sunday to Thursday-Saturday.
• With all of the various schedule changes in the last week, Central Missouri will be playing 10 games in six days this week.
• Central Missouri was picked to finish third in the 2019 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Jennies tallied 141 points in the poll.
• 2019 will mark the 48th season of Jennies softball. It will also be the 13th season under the direction of Head Coach
Susan Anderson.
Quick Hits
Anderson vs. the Competition
• Central Missouri has enjoyed much success against Missouri Southern under Coach Anderson with a 21-6 record. She also has a winning record against five of the six Northern Sun schools UCM is to face this weekend. Only Minnesota State, who is 3-5 has a winning record and the Jennies defeated them earlier this season. UCM is a combined 27-10 against this weekend's six opponents.
Last Time Out
• The Jennies kicked off MIAA play just two days ago, splitting with Missouri Western in St. Joseph. They dropped game on 8-6 before taking the second 6-3.
Taylor Dames and
Makenzie McAtee each went yard in the win and
Jordan Johnson was the pitcher of record with
Alexa Bradley getting the save.
Milestones
• With one more win,
Alexa Bradley will reach 25 in the circle. She is also fourth all-time in career saves with seven.
•
Sarah Brown needs one more strikeout to get to 50.
•
Lauryn Deer is six stolen bases away from 50.
•
Jordan Johnson needs two more wins to get to 20.
•
Kaitlyn Markin will get to 50 hits with two more.
MIAA Leaders
•
Taylor Nickel remains in the MIAA top-10 in on-base percentage standing fourth at .519.
•
Jessica Sader has moved up to sixth in batting average hitting .429.
•
Jordan Johnson is in the top-10 in ERA, currently sixth at 2.62.
Three's Company
• With nine triples, the Jennies are second in the MIAA.
•
Hailey Crabtree's five three-baggers also lead the MIAA. She is already tied for the ninth most triples in a single season in team history.
Leading Off
• The Jennies have a done a great job leading off innings this season. The leadoff hitters are reaching base 45.8% of the time.
Makenzie McAtee has done so in 10 of 16 leadoff apperances and leadoff hitter
Lauryn Deer is 13 for 25.
• UCM is also starting games off strong. They have scored 33 runs in the first two innings of games. Their 20 in the second inning is their most in any this season. They've scored in the first inning in seven games with a 5-2 record and are 7-3 when they score first.
Holding On
• Central Missouri has mixed and matched their bullpen with six having made at least two relief appearances this season. UCM has a 3.73 bullpen ERA.
Gentry Wishard hasn't allowed an earned run in 6.2 innings out of the pen while
Jordan Johnson has given up just two in 10.1 innings.
• The Jennies are also holding on to their leads as they haven't lost a game when leading after five innings.
Current Streaks
•
Jessica Sader is currently riding a lengthy hitting streak of 14 games, the longest this season for the Jens and the longest since Braylyn Bivens had a 15 game hitting streak in 2013.
• She has also reached base in 15 straight games.
Who's Hot
•
Jordan Johnson has won each of her last four starts and was 2-0 with a 1.58 ERA last week in wins over Missouri S&T and Missouri Western.
•
Lauryn Deer collected seven hits in 12 at bats last week and sported a .667 on base percentage.
•
Taylor Dames hit two home runs last week and now leads the team with three.
Up Next
• After this tournament the Jennies will be back home for a pair of makeup doubleheaders. They take on William Jewell Wednesday, March 27 and Southwest Baptist Saturday, March 30.
Scouting the Opposition
Missouri Southern
• Missouri Southern comes into the week at 9-10, but are a different team at home where they are 6-2. They split with Nebraska-Kearney, winning game 1 12-4 with a new program record five home runs.
• Lexi Ferrari is the team's leading run producer with 21 RBI. She also has four home runs.
• Abby Atkin is 5-4 in the circle with a 4.36 ERA and team-best 42 strikeouts.
Minnesota State
• The Jennies shutout Minnesota State back in their third game of the season, 2-0. Since then they have rattled off wins in eight of their last 10 games.
• Cori Kennedy is hitting .466 while Julia Bastian has a 4-0 record and 1.96 ERA.
Concordia-St. Paul
• The Golden Bears recently lost a five-game winning streak and are 11-6 this season.
• Aryka Knoche has driven in 14 runs with a .440 batting average and both Kali Kaestner and Samantha Sullivan have ERA's under 2.00. The team sports a 1.75 ERA in the circle.
St. Cloud State
• St. Cloud State has won four straight and are 17-3 this season. They've hit 20 home runs as a team while pitching to a 1.50 team ERA. Jasmin Estrada has four home runs and 27 RBI.
Sioux Falls
• Sioux Falls is 10-8 this season coming into Emporia. Lexie Swift has 14 htis in 27 at bats with a .606 on base percentage. Courtney Mathews is the ace with a 2.94 ERA in 31 winnings with 20 strikeouts.
Upper Iowa
• Among Upper Iowas seven wins is one against UCM coming back in February. They are 7-5 on the year. Katie Crogan is hitting .474. Emily Kisch has a 3.47 ERA in 36.1 innings with 23 strikeouts.
Wayne State
• Wayne State is 8-6 this season but have won five straight games. The team is predicated on reaching base with just 16 extra base hits. Raquell Penke is hitting .481 and both she and Taylor Mendard are getting on base more than half the time. Makenna Adison has a 2.49 ERA and is 5-3.
