KEARNEY, Neb. (Mar. 7, 2020) - Central Missouri Softball faced 30-40 mhp winds in their MIAA doubleheader against the Lopers. After earning the first MIAA sweep of the season last night against Fort Hays State, the Jennies split with Nebraska-Kearney on the road Saturday afternoon.
Game 1 - Central Missouri 1, Nebraska-Kearney 6
How It Happened:
• There was little offensive action in the first few innings as the Jennies accounted for all four hits through the bottom of the third.
• Nebraska-Kearney was the first to score in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and a runner on second, Nicole Spykstra reached on by a UCM error and scored Carlee Liesch to give the Lopers at 1-0 lead.
• The Lopers recorded back-to-back singles scoring back-to-back runs to lead the Jennies by three moving into the top of the fifth.
• Central Missouri scored their first and only run in the top of the fifth as Ashlyn Cook doubled down the right field line to score Lauryn Deer from second.
• Nebraska-Kearney put up another three-run inning in the bottom half of the inning.
• The Lopers followed a double down the right field line with a triple to right field to score runs four and five. UNK's sixth run against the Jens was scored on a single to right field.
• The Jennies finished 1-8 in their final at bats of the sixth and seventh innings.
• Central Missouri left runners on base in six of the seven innings.
Leading the Jennies:
• Cook was 2-3 with a single and a double.
• Deer finished 2-4 while scoring the Jennies lone run.
• Paige Petefish threw 4.1 innings in the circle, allowing six hits and six UNK runs scored while striking out five.
• Gentry Wishard came in to finish the remaining 1.2 innings. She allowed one Loper hit, one walk and struck out two.
For the Lopers:
• Liesch led UNK with two hits in three at bats.
• Six different Lopers scored their six runs and six different Lopers drove in those runs.
• Kelsey Goodban tossed the complete game allowing seven hits, one run and one walk while striking out five.
Game 2 - Central Missouri 7, Nebraska-Kearney 5
How It Happened:
• The Jennies bats seemed to come alive in game two against the Lopers.
• It was Deer again who scored the first UCM run. After Sydney Wellshear walked, she stole second and Deer stole home.
• Deer's run was followed with a single to left field by Makenzie McAtee to score Wellshear from second to give the Jens a 2-0 advantage after the first.
• Nebraska-Kearney left two runners on base with no runs scored in the bottom of the first and second innings.
• Central Missouri added three more runs off four hits and left two runners on base in the top of the third.
• Abbey Fischer began the three-run inning with a single to right right that would score pinch runner Amolee Hawkins.
• Fischer was then driven home on an infield grounder to the left side by Wellshear.
• Another single, this time off the bat of McAtee, scored Cook. Jennies led the Lopers 5-0.
• The Lopers rallied in the bottom of the third scoring five runs off five hits. Wishard came into the circle to relieve Alexa Bradley.
• Central Missouri regained their lead in the next inning as pinch runner Peyton Corrigan scored on an infield ground out by Fischer.
• A Cook single scored what would be the final run of the game as she hit home Brie Murray from third.
• Wishard and the UCM defense held the Lopers to win it 7-5. UNK left a total of six runners on base in their three final at bats.
• The Lopers finished with a total of 21 runners left on base compared to the Jens' four. Central Missouri also out-hit UNK 9-8.
Leading the Jennies:
• McAtee finished with two hits and one walk in three at bats. The designated player also drove in two runs while scoring one herself.
• Fischer also finished with two RBI.
• Deer led the Jennies with two stolen bases.
• Wishard led UCM in the circle, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four batters in her 2.2 innings pitched.
For the Lopers:
• Abbie Vodicka was the only Loper to finish with two hits.
• Katie Gosker drove in the team-high of two runs.
• Sarah Handrahan threw the final three innings against the Jens. She allowed just one hit and one walk in nine at bats.
Up Next:
Central Missouri Softball (10-5, 3-1 MIAA) will return to action Tuesday, Mar. 10 in their 2020 home opener against Drury. The Jennies are scheduled to begin game one of the doubleheader at 3 p.m. at UCM's South Rec Complex in Warrensburg, Mo.
