WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 25, 2021) - Central Missouri softball hits the road this weekend for three doubleheaders in three separate states. The Jennies will face their first ranked competition of the season, taking on two teams ranked in the NCAA Division II Top-25.
Opponents:
Newman Jets (3-16, 1-7 MIAA)
No. 25 Central Oklahoma Bronchos (16-6, 5-1 MIAA)
No. 3 Augustana Vikings (10-2, 0-0 NSIC)
When:
Friday, Match 26th vs. Newman (D.H.) - 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 27th vs. Central Oklahoma (D.H.) -12:00 p.m.
Monday, March 29th vs. Augustana (D.H.) - 1:00 p.m.
Where:
Friday vs. Newman -
NU Softball Field - Wichita, Kan.
Saturday vs. Central Oklahoma -
Broncho Softball Field - Edmond, Okla.
Monday vs. Augustana -
Iowa Western Softball Field - Council Bluffs, Iowa
Leading Off:
• Central Missouri is on a four-game win streak after finishing 5-1 while hosting games in the Missouri Western Regional Crossover last weekend.
• Over the weekend, the Jennies offense totaled 63 hits and scored 38 runs while the defense allowed 46 hits and 29 runs scored.
• Jennies left fielder
Makenzie Cooper was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week after leading UCM with a six-game batting average of .733 and a slugging percentage of 1.733.
• Central Missouri will face its first ranked competition of the season this week with games against No. 3 Augustana (S.D.) and No. 25 Central Oklahoma.
• The Jennies first take on Newman in UCM's second MIAA doubleheader of the season. Newman is currently 3-16 overall and posts a 1-7 record in the MIAA. The Jets picked up their first league win in a 7-5 victory against Missouri Southern.
• Central Oklahoma posts a record of 14-6 and is 5-1 in league contests. The Bronchos are one of two MIAA competitors ranked in Division II coming in at No. 25. Central Oklahoma will host Lincoln on Friday, March 26th, before the Jennies come to town.
• Ranked third in Division II, the Vikings have only competed in 12 games so far this season and post an overall record of 10-2. Augustana is currently on a seven game winning streak which includes two victories over No. 25 Central Oklahoma. Monday's doubleheader with UCM with be Augustana's first games in a week.
• The Jennies received votes in the latest NCAA Division II coaches' poll.
Jennie Notes:
• Jumping three spots from last week, Central Missouri now leads the MIAA with a team batting average of .354 and a team slugging percentage of .607. The Jennies slugging percentage also ranks eighth in Division II while their batting average ranks 14th in the nation.
• Through 16 games, the Jennies have totaled 146 hits and 99 runs scored. Among UCM's 146 hits, 60 of them are for extra bases with 36 doubles, four triples, and 20 home runs. The Jennies rank sixth in Division II with 2.25 doubles per game and 14th with 1.25 home runs per game.
• Four Jennies are currently hitting above .400 lead by left fielder
Makenzie Cooper whose hitting .567.
• Cooper also leads the Jennies and the MIAA with a 1.133 slugging percentage and a .629 on-base percentage while her batting average ranks second in the league. Cooper's slugging percentage also ranks ninth in Division II while her batting average and on-base percentage rank in the top-25 in the nation.
• Shortstop
Abbey Fischer and center fielder
Bailey Fowler led the UCM offense with 21 hits apiece. Both Fischer's and Fowler's batting averages and slugging percentages rank in the leagues's top-10. Fowler also posts the team-high 14 RBI which ranks sixth in the league.
• The Jennies pitching staff posts a team ERA of 2.55 to rank third in the MIAA while their opposing batting average of .227 ranks second. They also lead the league and ranks sixth in the nation with a 8.21 strikeout to walk ratio (115 Ks, 14 BBs).
• Freshman
Kyleigh Lay currently leads the Jennies pitching staff with a 1.53 ERA in 18 innings pitched. Her ERA and opposing batting average of .209 both rank third in the league.
• Sophomore
Paige Petefish leads UCM in wins (5), innings pitched (34), and strikeouts (43). Her 43 strikeouts rank sixth in the MIAA while her .214 opposing batting average ranks seventh.
•
Sadie Parks led the Jennies pitching over the weekend with a 1.56 ERA through nine innings. Parks currently ranks third in Division II with a 32.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In 28 innings, she's allowed just one walk while recording 32 strikeouts and posts an overall ERA of 2.25.
• Central Missouri's defense also ranks second in the league and 15th in Division II with a team fielding percentage of .979.
Scouting the Opposition:
NEWMAN JETS (3-16, 1-7 MIAA)
• Newman is on a seven game losing streak since they started MIAA contests. Early in the season the Jets picked up non-conference wins over Texas Permian Basin (9-1) and Midwestern State (10-0). Newman's third win was 7-5 victory over Missouri Southern in the Jets league opener on March 5th.
• The Jets offense currently ranks 10th in the MIAA with a .282 batting average while the pitching staff posts a league-low 7.90 ERA.
• Through 19 games Newman has recorded 148 hits, 45 walks, and 85 runs scored while allowing 192 opposing hits, 60 walks, and 159 opponent runs scored.
• Outfielder Taylor Ullery posts a team-high batting average of .383 and slugging percentage of .850. She leads the Jets and the MIAA with 21 RBI on the season.
• Ullery also shares the team-high 23 hits with shortstop Anissa Ramos who is hitting .371 and has 16 RBI.
• Sophomore Anna Veltien leads the Jets pitching staff with a 6.91 ERA and 49 innings pitched. In 223 at bats she's allowed 73 hits, 49 earned runs, and 26 hits while striking out 16.
• The Newman defense ranks 11th in the league posting a team fielding percentage of .945. In 19 games the Jets have committed 30 errors and have only thrown three runners out on steal attempts.
Previously vs. the Jets
• With Newman just joining the MIAA in the fall of 2019, Friday's doubleheader marks the second and third meetings between the Jennies and the Jets.
• These teams first met in the 2018 season while competing in the Southeastern Oklahoma Regional Invitational which resulted in a 4-2 UCM victory.
No. 25 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS (16-6, 5-1 MIAA)
• Previously ranked No. 23 in the nation, Central Oklahoma dropped two spots in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division II coaches' poll, coming in at No. 25.
• The Bronchos went 2-2 last week at the Hy-Vee Classic in Emporia, Kan., losing two close games to No. 3 Augustana while beating Sioux Falls twice.
• Central Oklahoma split with No. 12 Rogers State for its first league lost. The Hillcats took game one of the doubleheader 5-1 then lost game two to the then No. 23 Bronchos, 0-1.
• Central Oklahoma currently leads the MIAA with a .982 team fielding percentage which ranks four spots above UCM in the national rankings at 11th. The Bronchos team batting average and ERA both rank sixth in the league.
• In 591 at bats, the UCO offense have seen 172 hits, 70 walks, and a league-high 136 runs scored. Their 123 RBI also leads the MIAA.
• The Bronchos offense is currently lead by first baseman Allie Ficher. She leads UCO with a .352 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage with 19 hits and 16 walks which leads the MIAA.
• Outfielder Hazel Puempel owns the team-highs in hits (24), runners batting in (17), and runs scored. Her 17 runs scored ranks fifth in the league.
• Two pitchers have thrown 59 innings for the Bronchos, Corrina Rivas and Kylee Lynch. Rivas leads the UCO pitching staff with a 2.23 ERA and a .235 opposing batting average while Lynch posts the team-high 36 strikeouts in a team-high 245 at bats.
Previously vs. the Bronchos
• The Bronchos lead the all-time series against UCM by one, 19-18.
• Central Oklahoma has won the last three meetings against the Jennies. The last time UCM defeated UCO in Edmond was a Jennies sweep in 2015.
• Head Coach
Susan Anderson is 8-14 against the Bronchos.
No. 3 AUGUSTANA VIKINGS (10-2, 0-0 NSIC)
• Augustana's last six consecutive wins were against MIAA competitors: No. 25 Central Oklahoma (10-8, 4-3), Emporia State (6-2, 5-3), and Missouri Southern (8-0, 11-3).
• The Vikings suffered their first loses early in the season while competing in Texas. Augustana suffered a 2-1 loss to No. 7 A&M Commerce then fell to No. 4 UT Tyler 7-5.
• Through 12 games the Vikings post a team batting average of .322 which ranked third in the NSIC. In 301 at bats, they've recorded 97 hits, 26 walks, 54 strikeouts, and 70 runs scored.
• Three Vikings are currently hitting above .400 led by senior outfielder Kendall Cornick. Cornick posts a team-best batting average of .463 and leads the Vikings with 19 hits, 16 RBI, and 16 runs scored.
• Cornick also leads Auggie with seven stolen bases.
• Augustana's pitching staff posts a 3.72 team ERA. Ashley Mickschl and Amber Elliott lead the Vikigns with 35 innings pitched each. Mickschl has allowed 35 hits, 22 runs, and 10 walks while striking out 21 batters. Elliott leads the Vikings with 31 strikeouts while allowing 40 hits, 21 runs scored, and 20 walks.
Previously vs. the Vikings
• Augustana leads the all-time series against the Jennies 13-8.
• Central Missouri has won three of the last four meetings with the Vikings. The last time these teams met was in St. Joseph during the 2017 season which resulted in a 1-0 Auggie victory.
• Head Coach
Susan Anderson is 4-6 against the Vikings.
Individual Milestones:
• Sophomore
Ashlyn Cook recorded her 100th career hit in the Jennies 7-5 win over Concordia-St. Paul last Sunday.
• Junior third baseman
Jessica Sader is 3 put outs away from her career 100th and nine hits away from her career 100th.
• Junior first baseman
Makenzie McAtee is 10 put outs away from her career 100th.
• Head Coach
Susan Anderson recorded her 600th career win in the Jennies 3-1 extra innings victory over Truman State in UCM's fourth game of the season.
Season Notes:
• Central Missouri was able to squeeze 17 games in before the NCAA's cancelation of the remaining spring sport season in March 2020. The Jennies went 11-6 overall and 3-1 in MIAA competition.
• The Jennies were selected fourth in the 2021 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll with 138 total points.
• A total of 15 Jennies return from last year's squad which includes eight position starters. Central Missouri graduated four seniors last spring, including center fielder
Lauryn Deer who led the Jennies with 24 runs scored and 12 stolen bases last season.
• Central Missouri welcomed six newcomers to the 2021 Jennies softball team.
• The 2021 season marks Head Coach
Susan Anderson's 15th season leading Jennies Softball. She posts a 415-305 record at UCM and a 596-477 overall record in her 23rd year as a head coach.
