ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Central Missouri Jennies (20-10, 4-4 MIAA) dropped a pair of games against the Missouri Western Griffons (23-8, 4-4 MIAA) by final scores of 5-4 and 16-8 (6 inn.), on Friday, March 27, from Griffons Softball Field in St. Joseph.
The Jens continue MIAA play on Saturday, March 28, as they take on the Northwest Missouri Bearcats (24-7, 4-2 MIAA) for a pair of games, with first pitch of game one slated for noon from Bearcat Softball Field in Maryville, Mo.
Game 1: Missouri Western 5, Central Missouri 4
The Griffons got on the board with a run in the bottom of the first, but Central Missouri responded with three runs in the top of the second thanks to a pair of MWSU errors.
Missouri Western trimmed the Jens' lead with a run in second, before Central Missouri regained a two-run advantage in the top of the sixth as
Malia Bucksath scored on a passed ball.
The Griffons answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame and never relinquished en route to their 22
nd victory of the season.
Bailey Brumley (4-3) suffered the loss in the circle, while
Lexi Blackmon and
Marisa Johnson recorded multi-hit performances, pacing the Jens offensively.
Game 2: Missouri Western 16, Central Missouri 8 (6 inn.)
Brumley opened the scoring in game two, with her seventh homer of the season, giving UCM a 1-0 lead after half an inning of play.
The Griffons responded with six runs in the bottom of the frame, but Brumley cut the lead to a pair with her second round-tripper of the ballgame, this time a three-run shot that plated
Kyrsten Moran and
Taylor Kvale.
The Jens added a run in the third, thanks to an RBI single up the middle from
Cydney Fullerton, making it 6-5 MWSU.
Missouri Western regained a two-run advantage in the bottom of the frame, but the Jens tied the game in the fifth with a two-run dinger off the bat of Johnson, before taking the lead with a Kvale RBI single.
The Griffons answered with eight runs in the ensuing half inning, before hitting a walk-off double in the sixth, improving to 23-8 on the season.
Riley Bebb (3-3) suffered the loss in the circle, while three Jens had multi-hit ballgames, including Brumley, Johnson, and Kvale for good measure.