EDMOND, Okla. (May 15, 2021) - Central Missouri Softball was crowned the 2021 MIAA Tournament Champions with a win over Rogers State Saturday afternoon in Edmond. The championship title automatically qualifies the Jennies for the NCAA Central Region Tournament beginning Wednesday, May 19th in Edmond.
How it Happened:
• Neither the Jennies or the Hillcats generated much of an offense through the first four innings of the MIAA Championship.
•
Paige Petefish and the UCM defense recorded nine consecutive outs through the first three innings.
• Central Missouri recorded the first hit of the game in the top of the fourth as
Makenzie McAtee singled to the Hillcats shortstop. Rogers State recorded the final out of the inning with McAtee stranded on first base.
• The Hillcats offense also saw their first hits in the bottom half of the fourth inning. In a first and third situation with two outs, third baseman
Jessica Sader threw home to
Taylor Nickel who tagged a stealing Hillcat for the final out of the inning.
• After a close call in the bottom of the fourth, UCM's offense came to life in the top of the fifth with four runs scored off three hits.
• Sader opened the inning with a solo home run that smacked the UCO scoreboard for the first run of the game.
• Following Sader's dinger,
Brenlyn McCoy reached on with a walk,
Abbey Fischer singled up the middle, and
Bailey Fowler also walked to load the bases with yesterday's hero,
Ashlyn Cook, up to bat.
• With two outs, Cook tripled down the right field line, scoring McCoy, Fischer, and Fowler for the Jennies to take a 4-0 lead.
• The Jennies held on to their 4-0 advantage until the bottom of the sixth. After taking a foul ball to the face, RSU's short stop homered to left field for the HIllcats first run of the game. Another home run scored three more Hillcat runs as Makayla Bowman hit a three-run shot to left center, tying the game 4-4.
• Central Missouri regained the lead in the top of the seventh off a single hit and two Hillcat errors.
• With runners on first and second, RSU's third baseman short-hopped her first baseman after fielding a hit by Cook. With the ball traveling into the outfield,
Aubrie McRoberts and Fischer both reached home with Cook safe at third.
• With
Sadie Parks in the circle for RSU's final at-bats, the Jennies defense allowed one run to score with two outs. Parks stuck out the Hillcats final batter to finalize the game with a 6-5 Jennies victory and the MIAA Tournament Title.
Leading the Jennies:
• Five different Jennies accounted for UCM's five total hits.
• First baseman
Makenzie McAtee reached on base a team-high two times with a hit and a walk.
• Right fielder
Ashlyn Cook recorded a game-high three RBI.
• Shortstop
Abbey Fischer led the Jennies with two runs scored.
•
Paige Petefish threw five innings against the Hillcats. In 18 at-bat she allowed just four hits, two runs, no walks, and stuck out four batters.
• In the final seven at-bats
Sadie Parks allowed two RSU hits, one run scored, and one walk while striking out two Hillcats.
For Rogers State:
• Left fielder Makayla Bowman went 2-for-4 in the box and led the Hillcats with three RBI.
• Danelle Day shared RSU's team-high two hits with Bowman,
• Shortstop Sabrina Anguiano was the only Hillcat to reach on base in all her at-bats with a hit and a walk. She also led RSU with two runs scored.
• The MIAA Pitcher of the Year Andrea Moralas gave up four hits, four runs, and three walks in 22 batters faced. She also recorded a game-high six strikeouts.
• M'Kayla Hillman faced nine Jennies in the final two innings allowed one hit and two runs scored.
News & Notes:
• The Hillcats offense out-hit the Jennies 7-5 while their defense recorded a game-high two errors.
•
Sadie Parks earned her 11th win of the season pitching the final five outs.
• Central Missouri is now 3-4 all-time against the Hillcats.
•
Jessica Sader's home run was her eigth of the season and the Jennies 42nd overall.
• Four Jennies were named to the MIAA All-Tournament team with
Makenzie McAtee being honored as the 2021 Most Outstanding Player.
•
Brenlyn McCoy was named an all-tournament team infielder,
Ashlyn Cook was named an all-tournament team outfielder, and Pagie Petefish was named an all-tournament team pitcher.
• This is Central Missouri's seventh MIAA Tournament Championship in program history and first since the 2015 season.
Up Next:
Jennies Softball will make its 12th NCAA Regional Tournament appearance in the 2021 Central Region Championships. The opening rounds of the tournament are scheduled to begin Wednesday, May 19th. All games will be played at Bronchos Stadium in Edmond, Okla.
