WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 16, 2021) - Central Missouri Softball (23-9, 12-4 MIAA) looks to keep its winning streak alive while hosting the Gorillas and the Lions this weekend on Jennies Field.
Opponents:
Pittsburg State Gorillas (13-21, 7-9 MIAA)
Missouri Southern Lions (17-12-1, 8-5-1 MIAA)
When:
Saturday vs. Pittsburg State - 1 and 3 p.m.
Sunday vs. Missouri Southern - 1 and 3 p.m.
Where:
South Recreation Complex -
Jennies Field - Warrensburg, Mo.
Fan Information:
• Central Missouri will honor their 2019-20 and 2020-21 senior classes this weekend. The seniors will throw out the first pitch against the Gorillas on Saturday.
• Both games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/.
• Links to live stats and live video can also be found at ucmathletics.com.
Leading Off:
• Originally scheduled to host Missouri Southern on Friday, April 16th, the Jennies will not host the Lions on Sunday, April 18th due to high amounts of rain predicted for Friday's weather forecast.
• Central Missouri is on a seven-game winning streak and have swept their last three MIAA opponents.
• In their last outing, the Jennies defeated Fort Hays State 4-2 in each game.
• Pittsburg State went 1-3 last week with doubleheaders against Rogers State and Northeastern State.
• The Gorillas fell both games to the Hillcats last Friday and were out scored 12-4. Pittsburg State then split with NSU, winning game one 7-4 and falling 7-9 in game two.
• Missouri Southern went 2-1-1 last week also facing the RiverHawks and Hillcats.
• The Lions won game one against NSU 4-3 while game two ended in a 3-3 tie after five innings due to inclement weather. Missouri Souther also one its first game against RSU, upsetting the No. 22 Hillcats 5-3 before falling 7-1 in game two.
Jennie Notes:
• Central Missouri's offense currently leads the MIAA is ranked in the top-25 in Division II with a .336 batting average and a .541 slugging percentage.
• Through 32 games the Jennies have recorded 286 hits, 172 runs, 152 RBI and 73 walks. Among UCM's 286 hits, 102 of them have been for extra bases with 63 doubles, five triples, and 34 home runs.
• The Jennies 286 hits ranks fourth in Division II while their 63 total doubles leads the MIAA and their 2.08 doubles per game ranks sixth in Division II. Central Missouri's 34 home runs also rank second in the league and 19th in Division II.
• Three Jennies currently rank in the league's top-10 hitters lead by
Ashlyn Cook with a .407 batting average to rank fourth in the MIAA.
Bailey Fowler is hitting .396 which ranks seventh and
Abbey Fischer's .386 batting average ranks ninth.
• Right fielder Cook also leads the Jennies with 24 RBI and a .697 slugging percentage.
• Center fielder Fowler also leads the UCM offense in runs scored (28), walks (15), and doubles (15). Fowler's 15 doubles leads the league and ranks second in Division II.
• Jennies leadoff hitter Fischer leads UCM with 16 stollen bases and 40 hits to rank in the league's top-10 in each category.
• Central Missouri's pitching staff ranks fourth in the MIAA with a team ERA of 2.56. They have allowed the least walks in the league with just 34 walks in 789 at-bats to rank sixth in Division II with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.68.
• Pagie Petefish and
Sadie Parks both rank in the league's top-10 pitching. Petefish posts a 2.24 ERA to rank fifth in the MIAA while Parks' ERA of 2.28 ranks sixth.
• Sophomore Petefish leads the MIAA with a .207 opposing batting average. She also leads the Jennies with 78 strikeouts which ranks fifth in the league. In 75.2 innings pitched Petefish as allowed 60 hits and 24 earned runs while giving up just 14 walks.
• Freshman Parks has allowed the least amount of walks in the MIAA with just four in 223 at-bats. She ranks ninth in Division II with a 12.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
• Central Missouri also post one of the top-25 team fielding percentages in Division II and ranks second in the MIAA with a .974 fielding percentage.
Scouting the Opposition:
PITTSBURG STATE GORILLAS (13-21, 7-9 MIAA)
• Pittsburg State currently ranks 10th in the MIAA with a league record of 7-9.
• Through 34 games the Gorillas offense has totaled 243 hits, 143 runs, 128 RBI and 95 walks to post a team batting average of .264 while the defense has allowed 297 hits, 194 runs scored, and 62 walks for an opposing batting average of .305.
• The Gorillas are led by first baseman Kami Zimmerman who's hitting .313. Left fielder Kylee Bohle posts the team-high 34 hits while center fielder Keelah Griffith leads PSU with 24 RBI and posts the team-high slugging percentage of .602.
• Pittsburg State posts a team ERA of 4.67. The pitching staff is led by senior Kaylee Burns who posts a 3.45 ERA through a team-high 93.1 innings pitched. In 385 at-bats shes allowed 108 hits, 46 earned runs, and 16 walks while striking out a team-high 56 batters.
• The Gorillas are 4-8 while playing on the road this season.
Previously vs. the Gorillas
• Central Missouri leads the all-time series against PSU 49-28.
• The Jennies have won three of the last four match ups.
• In the Jennies last MIAA doubleheader against the Gorillas, UCM split with PSU in the 2019 season losing the first game 5-6 in nine innings and winning the second game 6-2.
• Head Coach
Susan Anderson is 21-10 overall against the Gorillas.
MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS (17-12-1, 8-5-1 MIAA)
• Missouri Southern currently ranks seventh in the MIAA with a league record of 8-5-1.
• Through 30 games the Lions offense has recorded 218 hits, 146 runs, 125 RBI, and 65 walks while the defense has given up 223 hits, 129 runs, and 77 walks.
• The Lions are hitting .283 and are led by shortstop Josie Tofpi who's hitting .402 to rank fifth in the MIAA. Tofpi also posts the team-high 37 hits, 23 RBI, and a .620 slugging percentage.
• Missouri Southern's pitching staff currently ranks seventh in the league with a team ERA of 3.19. Of the 129 runs scored against them, only 89 of them have been earned.
• Abby Atkin leads the Lions with a 2.54 ERA which ranks in the league's top-10. In 74 innings she's allowed 82 hits, 27 earned runs, and 40 walks while striking out 33.
• Lacy Bailey leads MSSU with 44 strikeouts and posts the team-best opposing batting average of .260 in 49.1 innings.
• The Lions post a record of 6-4 while playing on the road this season.
Previously vs. the Lions
• Sunday's games will be the 102nd and 103rd meetings between UCM and MSSU with the Jennies leading the all-time series 62-39.
• Central Missouri has won the last 10 consecutive match ups against the Lions, out-scoring them 67-32.
• The last time the Jennies and the Lions met was in the 2019 season which resulted in a UCM sweep, winning game one 2-0 and game two 5-3.
• Head Coach
Susan Anderson is 23-6 overall against MSSU.
Individual Milestones:
• Sophomore right fielder
Ashlyn Cook is just one putout away from her career 100th.
• Junior first baseman
Makenzie McAtee is seven hits away and three starts away from her career 100th in each category.
• Junior third baseman
Jessica Sader recorded her 100th career hit against No. 21 Rogers State and her 100th career putout in UCM's last outing against Fort Hays State.
• Sophomore
Paige Petefish recorded her 100th career strikeout against No. 3 Augustana.
• 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.
Last Time Out:
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 13, 2021) - Central Missouri Softball earned its third consecutive MIAA sweep with two wins over Fort Hays State Tuesday afternoon. The Jennies defense held the Tigers with just two innings of scoring as UCM won both games 4-2.
GAME 1 - Central Missouri 4, Fort Hays State 2
• Fort Hays State scored two runs off three hits in their opening at-bats.
• Facing the top-ranked pitcher in the league, the Jennies offense went three up, three down in the bottom of the first inning.
• Freshman
Sadie Parks shutdown the Tigers offense in the top of the second with three consecutive strikeouts.
• The MIAA Hitter of the Week
Ashlyn Cook recorded the Jennies first hit and first run of the game with a solo home run to left center. The Tigers continued to lead 2-1 moving into the top of the third.
• The following three went scoreless with both UCM and FHSU recorded just two hits.
• Central Missouri took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with three runs off three hits.
• With bases loaded and no outs, third baseman
Jessica Sader had a hard hit to right field scoring the designated played
Sydney Wellshear and pinch runner
Peyton Corrigan for the 3-2 lead. In the following at-bat, pinch hitter
Abby Allnutt hit an infield single to score Cook for the Jennies fourth and final run of the game.
•
Paige Petefish and the Jennies defense finalized the game in the top of the seventh with two fly outs and one ground out for the 4-2 UCM victory.
• Central Missouri finished with six hits and left a total of six runners on base. Fort Hays State also recorded six hits.
• The Jennies combined pitching of Parks and Petefish didn't allow a single walk for the 14th time this season.
GAME 2 - Central Missouri 4, Fort Hays State 2
• The second game of the day wrote the same story.
•
Gentry Wishard and the Jennies defense allowed two runs off three hits, one walk, and hit on batter for five Tigers to reach on base in their first seven at-bats. With two outs and bases loaded,
Kyleigh Lay relieved Wishard in the circle and ended the inning with a strikeout.
• Central Missouri recorded two hits in the bottom half of the first and left two runners in scoring position.
• Just like the first game, the Jennies plated their first run in the bottom of the second as a single to the outfield by
Aubrie McRoberts scored Taylor Nickle with two outs. McRoberts was the final out of the inning, catch stealing third.
• While Lay and the UCM defense continued to hold the FHSU offense, Jessica Sadar tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer to center field.
• First baseman
Makenzie McAtee scored the Jennies final runs of the game with an absolute bomb over left field, scoring McRoberts and herself for the 4-2 lead.
• The Tigers offense recorded just two hits in their final seven at-bats of the sixth and seventh innings.
• Central Missouri out hit the Tigers 7-6 in game two.
• Fort Hays State left a game-high seven runners on base.
Season Notes:
• Jennies left field
Makenzie Cooper experienced a season-ending injury in UCM's 13th game of the season. Prior to her injury, Cooper was leading the Jennies offense with a .567 batting average, a 1.133 slugging percentage, and a .629 on-base percentage.
• 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.
