TOPEKA, Kan. – The fourth seed Central Missouri Jennies (33-19, 16-10) defeated the fifth seed Washburn Ichabods (36-15, 15-11) by a final score of 5-2 on Wednesday, May 3, in game one of the 2023 MIAA Softball Championships from Envista Softball Complex in Topeka, Kan.
 
The Ichabods got on the board with a solo home run in the top of the first, but with a runner on second with two outs in the bottom of the third Abbey Fischer hits a two-run dinger to center field (scoring Jadyn Sheffield) giving the Jens a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth the Jens added to their lead with an RBI triple from Ashlyn Cook down the right field line that scored Peyton Corrigan, but the Ichabods quickly responded in the top of the sixth with a solo homer making it 3-2 UCM.
 
After a lead-off walk from MaKenzie Cooper and a double from Jessica Sader to begin the bottom of the sixth, Halle Howes delivered with a two-run single extending the Jens a 5-2 lead. Topeka native Paige Petefish (12-5) earned the victory in the circle tossing her 12^th complete game of the season allowing five hits, two runs (two earned) and struck out four on 106 pitches while seven Jens collected a hit to lead UCM offensively.
 
No. 4 Central Missouri will take on No. 1 Central Oklahoma Thursday, May 4, at 4:00 p.m. from Envista Softball Complex (Field One) in Topeka, Kan.