University of Central Missouri Athletics

(Wichita Falls, Texas) – Even with the Central Missouri Jennies softball team out hitting its opponents 18-12 today, UCM still split on the second day of the Midwestern State Invitational in Wichita Falls, Texas on Saturday. The Jennies defeated St. Edward's 3-2 in the opening game and fell 1-0 to St. Mary's in the finale.
      Senior Kasey Martin led UCM with four hits on the day and walked once. Senior Kelli Kurka and freshman Braylyn Bivens both tallied three hits each. Kurka recorded a RBI and Bivens had a walk as well.
      Central Missouri will return home for the first time in three weeks with a doubleheader against Maryville on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for  3 p.m. from Jennies Field.
 
Game 1: Jennies 3, St. Edward's 2
      The score was tied at two apiece until Central Missouri put one up in the fifth inning and held the lead the last two frames. Both teams committed an error, and UCM out hit the Hilltoppers 10-9 in the contest.
      Martin led off the fifth inning with a single and later scored on junior Nicole Norberg's second double of the game.
      The Jennies got on the board in the third inning after sending seven batters to the plate, collecting three hits. With a runner on third, junior Katie Groves singled to center for UCM's first run. Groves later scored on Kurka's single to left center for the 2-0 lead.
      St. Edward's tied the game in the bottom half of the frame, scoring both runs with two outs and on three hits. The Hilltoppers had runners to third base in both the sixth and seventh innings but left them stranded.
      Martin went 3-of-3 in the contest. Norberg also had a multi-hit game, recording two doubles and a RBI.
      Sophomore Megan Schallom recorded her third victory in the circle, going 3.2 innings. She scattered four hits, walking three and striking out one. Sophomore Sarah Espy started the game, going 3.1 innings and giving up both runs. She allowed five hits, walking two and striking out two.
 
Game 2: Jennies 0, St. Mary's 1
      For the second time in as many days, Central Missouri fell to the Rattlers. Even though UCM out hit St. Mary's 8-3 the Jennies couldn't put them together to tie or win the game.
      St. Mary's scored in the second frame after an error by the UCM defense. After this inning, the Rattlers only had one runner past second base and three on second.
      Central Missouri had three runners on third base in the game, including in the first and sixth frames with less than two outs.
      Bivens, Kurka, and sophomore Ashlea Bengtson all had two hits in the game and Martin collected the lone walk.
      Senior Jamin Landreth suffered her second loss of the season, pitching the whole game. She gave up three hits, walking two and striking out two.