WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 15, 2019) - It's been a long fall and winter, but Central Missouri Jennies Softball will finally take the field for the 2019 season. After a number of schedule changes, the Jennies are set to play six games this weekend in Conway and Russellville, Ark.

Opponents
Nebraska-Kearney Lopers
Rogers State Hillcats
Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks
Upper Iowa Peacocks
Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers (DH)

When
Saturday-Monday Feb. 16-18
Saturday, Feb. 16 - 12:15 p.m. vs. Nebraska-Kearney
Saturday, Feb. 16 - 4:45 p.m. vs. Rogers State
Sunday, Feb. 17 - 2:30 p.m. vs. Minnesota State-Mankato
Sunday, Feb. 17 - 7 p.m. vs. Upper Iowa
Monday, Feb. 18 - 9 a.m. vs. Wisconsin-Parkside (DH)

Where
Saturday - Feb. 16 - Conway, Ark.
Sunday - Feb. 17 - Russellville, Ark.
Monday - Feb. 18 - Russellville, Ark.

Leading Off
• Central Missouri finished the regular season with a 30-20 record and 19-7 mark in the MIAA. They earned the No 2 seed in this weekend's MIAA Tournament.
• The Jennies 30 wins were the most since 2015 and the 18th time in school history UCM has reached the 30-win win total.
• This weekend will be the start of the 2019 season for Jennies Softball
• There has already been a schedule change as the originally scheduled Bentonville Nine-State Classic has been cancelled. UCM has joined with other displaced teams to play six games this weekend in Conway, Ark. and Russellville, Ark. 
• Central Missouri was picked to finish third in the 2019 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Jennies tallied 141 points in the poll.
• 2019 will mark the 48th season of Jennies softball. It will also be the 13th season under the direction of Head Coach Susan Anderson.

Quick Hits
Anderson vs. the Opposition 
• Coach Anderson is 20-7 against this weekend's opponents, but those numbers are a bit misleading. The Jennies are 12-1 all-time against Nebraska-Kearney and 6-0 against Upper Iowa, the only two of the five teams she has a winning record against. The Jennies haven't faced Rogers State with Coach Anderson at the helm and are 2-5 against Minnesota State Mankato and 0-1 against Wisconsin Parkside. 

Milestones
• Junior Lauryn Deer is one hit away from 100 in her career. She would be the 52nd member of the 100 it club after Hailey Crabtree and Allie  Dishinger did so last year.

New Faces
• Central Missouri brings aboard eight new players for the 2019 season including seven freshmen. The only new transfer is pitcher Amolee Hawkins who comes from Division III Tufts in Massachusetts. 

Position Battles
• The Jennies lost three starters from last season who played every game at their position - Allie  Dishinger at catcher, Emily  King at third base and Courtni  Smith in centerfield. Those three positions are up for grabs. 
• At catcher, two sophomores Taylor Nickel and Brie Murray will get the first crack to win the job. 
• Lauryn Deer is penciled in to take over the job in centerfield, leaving a vacancy in right. Freshman Ashlyn Cook can see time there along with junior Aubrey Daniel.
• Third base is a little trickier. The Jennies first hope to fill the position was Olivia Krehbiel, but an injury will sideline her for most of the season. The spot might go to freshmen Jessica Sader or sophomore Brenlyn McCoy. 

All-MIAA Returners
• After having 10 make the All-MIAA team in 2018, UCM returns seven of those players. Taylor Dames was a First Team selection as a utility player and Lauryn Deer was Second Team in the outfield.
• Alexa Bradley (P), Hailey Crabtree (1B), Alexis Koop (2B), Kaitlyn Markin (SS) and Payton Summers (DH) were all on the All-MIAA Honorable Mention squad.

Pitching Depth
• Central Missouri will carry six pitchers to start the season and it wouldn't be a stretch to say all may see significant playing time. The Jennies had success using a whole staff approach last season and this year have more arms to try that again.
• There may be more defined roles for Jennies pitchers this season and Coach Anderson may utilize her bullpen more this year.

Schedule Changes
• It's softball season, so that means there must be schedule changes. Already the Jennies opening weekend has moved dramatically. The Bentonville 9-State Classic scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled and the Jennies have been forced to adjust, finding games to play in Conway and Russellville, Ark. 

Around the MIAA
• Central Missouri is the only MIAA team yet to play this season. 
• By contrast, Central Oklahoma and Washburn already have 10 games under their belts. The Bronchos are off to a 9-1 start.

Up Next
• Following their time in Arkansas, the Jennies will have a brief return home before going to Claremore, Okla. to take on 2020 MIAA foe Rogers State for a doubleheader, Wed. Feb. 20th. 
• The Jennies first home games are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 27 against William Jewell.

Scouting the Opposition
Five of the six opponents the Jennies face this weekend have already began their 2019 season
Nebraska-Kearney
The Lopers are off to an 0-4 start this season. They were picked to finish 11th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. They've played three Northern Sun opponents in four games. 
Three of the four losses have come by one run with one being in extra innings.
Lauren Streubing has been a tough out with five hits in seven at bats. 
Mo Vornhagen has started two games with a 3.18 ERA and 10 strikeouts

Rogers State
2020 MIAA foe Rogers State has already played 9 games and are off to a 6-3 start.
In five of their wins, the Hillcats have scored at least eight runs.
Allie McFetridge leads the team hitting .478 with 11 his and 10 runs batted in.
Bailey Killough has a 0.89 ERA and 2-1 record in 5 starts with 14 punch outs.

Minnesota-Mankato
The Mavericks have started the year 3-1. They split a doubleheader with Missouri Western before defeating Wisconsin Parkside and Nebraska-Kearney.
Cori Kennedy and Amber Kral are each hitting .500 or better. Kennedy has 11 RBI with three extra base hits.
Mackenzie Ward has a 0.38 ERA in 18.2 innings. She's 2-1 with 18 strikeouts.

Upper Iowa
Upper Iowa is yet to play a game this season. 
They went 20-24 last year with a 7-17 mark in the Northern Sun

Wisconsin-Parkside
The Rangers are yet to win a game in four tries this season.
In three their four losses, they've allowed at least 8 runs.
Megan Aliverti is hitting .417 with three doubles
Alyssa Hrncar has a 3.32 ERA in 6.1 innings.