MARYVILLE. Mo. -- Central Missouri Jennies softball dropped a pair of games Monday, Feb. 21, in the ESU Softball Classic Tri-Quad, falling to Minnesota Duluth, 9-5, and No. 6-ranked Minnesota State, 4-0, at Bearcat Softball Field.
The Jennies (1-7) head to the Washburn Invitational Feb. 25-26 in Topeka, Kan.
Game 1: Minnesota Duluth 9, Central Missouri 5
In UCM's 9-5 setback in game one on the day,
Makenzie McAtee and
MaKenzie Cooper both went 2-for-4 with a home run, while
Ashlyn Cook and
Aubrie McRoberts also had two hits, pacing the Jennies at the plate.
Reliever
Gentry Wishard (0-2) suffered the loss in the circle after surrendering two earned runs on one hit with one walk and failing to get an out.
Kiana Bender paced Minnesota Duluth (7-1) offensively, going 3-for-5 with a home run and double while driving in five runs.
Bulldog reliever Mady Stariha (1-1) earned the victory, giving up two earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks in 2 1/3 innings. Lauren Dixon picked up the save for Minnesota Duluth after getting the final out of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Game 2: No. 6 Minnesota State 4, Central Missouri 0
In the 4-0 loss in the second contest, the Jennies were limited to just two hits -- one by
Abbey Fischer and the other by
Halle Howes -- and struck out 10 times.
Kaylee Diggs (0-1) took the setback in game two for Central Missouri, allowing four earned runs on six hits with four Ks and five walks in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Hailey Forshee led the Mavericks (6-2) in the batter's box with a pair of hits and three RBIs.
Mackenzie Ward (3-2) posted the victory in the circle for Minnesota State, going the full seven innings and allowing no earned runs on just two hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks.
