Jennies Softball Begins MIAA Play Hosting Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State

FIRST PITCH

Central Missouri returns to the diamond on Friday, March 10, as they begin conference play hosting the Missouri Southern Lions for a doubleheader with game one's first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and continue MIAA play on Sunday, March 12, as they host the Pittsburg State Gorillas beginning at 1:00 p.m. from the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg, Mo.
UCM heads into play on Friday afternoon following a 4-0 outing at the MIAA/GLVC Crossover defeating Missouri S&T 5-3, Truman State 8-5, and a pair of wins over Southwest Baptist (8-1 and 8-7).
The Jennies feature five players that are hitting above .300 entering play on Friday including first baseman Makenzie McAtee (.419 avg., 14 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, .605 SLG%, 14 BB, .569 OB%), shortstop Abbey Fischer (.382 avg., 16 R, 1 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, .655 SLG%, 3 BB, .435 OB%, 3 SB), junior Abby Allnutt (.364 avg., 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI, .455 SLG%, .353 OB%, 1 SB), left fielder Ashlyn Cook (.360 avg., 11 R, 6 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, .600 SLG%, 5 BB, .424 OB%, 5 SB) and designated player MaKenzie Cooper (.346 avg., 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .500 SLG%, 4 BB, .419 OB%).
Through 17 games, Central Missouri is paced in the circle by Andi Siebeneck (1.86 ERA, 3-2, 26.1 IP, 21 H, 11 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 27 SO), Kaylee Diggs (2.17 ERA, 3-1, 19.1 IP, 18 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 7 BB, 9 SO) and Paige Petefish (3.21 ERA, 3-1, 32.2 IP, 31 H, 18 R, 15 ER, 3 BB, 37 SO).
As a team, the Jens are hitting .307 with an OPS of .813 while limiting the opposition to a .246 batting average. UCM has a team ERA of 2.86 and a .956 fielding percentage.

SERIES HISTORY

Missouri Southern: Heading into play on Friday afternoon, the Jens hold a 65-41 advantage all-time against Missouri Southern dating back to the 1979 season. Last season in Joplin, Central Missouri split their doubleheader with the Lions dropping game one 4-2 and winning 6-3 in game two (3/13/2022) in Joplin.
Pittsburg State: Ahead of Sunday's doubleheader, the Jennies hold a 52-29 series lead dating back to the 1980 season with both teams splitting last season's doubleheader (3/14/2022) as UCM won 6-3 in game one and the Gorillas winning 10-2 (6 inn.) in the finale.

UCM DURING the ANDERSON ERA

Susan Anderson enters her 17^th season as head coach of the Jennies where she is the second winningest coach in program history with a record of 475-358 (.570).
Since her return to Warrensburg in 2006, Anderson has made 13 MIAA tournament appearances, five regional tournament appearances and one Elite Eight appearance.
The 2015 Regional Coach of the Year has been named MIAA Coach of the Year three times in her career (twice named as head coach of the Jens) while coaching 17 first team All-MIAA selections, eight All-Region selections, two All-Americans and one MIAA MVP.

JENS SOFTBALL by the NUMBERS

39 MIAA Tournament Appearances
13 NCAA Tournament Appearances
9 MIAA Championship Teams
7 All-Americans
3 NCAA Elite Eight Appearances

ON DECK

The Jens conclude a six-game homestand with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 14, against the Northern State Wolves with first pitch of game one scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg.

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