TOPEKA, Kan. – The Central Missouri Jennies (9-2, 0-0 MIAA) defeated the Montana State-Billings Yellow Jackets (2-10, 0-0 NSIC) by a final score of 7-0, before taking down the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (2-11, 0-0 NSIC) 9-4, on Saturday, Feb. 21, during the final day of the Washburn Invitational from Silver Lake High School.
With the three-game sweep at the Washburn Invitational, the Jens' 9-2 record is the best start in program history since the 2021 campaign, when Central Missouri captured its seventh MIAA Tournament title and made its 12th NCAA Regional appearance.
The Jens return to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 27, for a pair of games against the Upper Iowa Peacocks (3-15, 0-0 GLVC) at 3:00 p.m. before taking on the Truman State Bulldogs (3-10, GLVC) at 5:30 p.m. during the opening day of the Midwest College Classic from MidAmerica Sports Complex in Shawnee, Kan.
Game 1: Central Missouri 7, MSU-Billings 0
Beginning with a two-run shot off the bat of
Marisa Johnson (her team-leading fourth of the season), followed by back-to-back RBI doubles from
Aly Hageman and
Jadyn Sheffield, before
Cydney Fullerton delivered with an RBI single, the Jens took a 5-0 lead after two innings of play.
Central Missouri added two insurance runs in the fifth, highlighted by an RBI single from Hageman that scored
Lexi Blackmon as the Jens cruised to a seven-run victory as
Riley Bebb (2-0) tossed a complete-game two-hitter while striking out three Yellow Jackets.
Madelyn Ducheneaux, Fullerton, and Hageman recorded multi-hit performances, pacing the Jens offensively for good measure.
Game 2: Central Missouri 9, Minnesota-Crookston 4
In the Washburn Invitational finale, Central Missouri utilized aggressive baserunning to manufacture its first two runs of the game as
Malia Bucksath crossed the plate from third on a stolen base attempt from Johnson, followed by Blackmon scoring after stealing third base and dashing home off the throw.
UCM added another run in the frame, thanks to an RBI single off the bat of
Kyrsten Moran that scored Hageman, making it 3-0 Jens. Central Missouri added three more runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-RBI single from
Bailey Brumley that scored
Anna Lee Kulka and Moran.
The Golden Eagles trimmed the lead to a pair with a four-run sixth inning, but Central Missouri responded in the ensuing half inning with another trio of runs beginning with a pinch-hit bases-loaded RBI walk from
Teelie Super, followed by a Moran RBI single, before Brumley delivered with an RBI sacrifice fly, making it 9-4 Jens.
Andi Siebeneck (4-1) earned her team-leading fourth victory of the season in the circle, allowing just two runs on three hits, while striking out five Crookston batters in 5 1/3 innings as Moran paced Central Missouri offensively with a multi-hit performance.