WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 21, 2021) - After six consecutive home games Jennies Softball is back on the road this week with an MIAA doubleheader against Missouri Western.
Opponents:
Missouri Western Griffons (24-12, 13-5 MIAA)
When:
Thursday, April 22 - 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.
Where:
Griffon Softball Field - St. Joseph, Mo.
Leading Off:
• Originally scheduled to face Missouri Western on Friday, April 23rd, the Jennies will now battle the Griffons on Thursday, April 22nd due to inclement weather predicted in Friday's forecast.
• Central Missouri is currently ranked second in the MIAA with a record of 15-5 and 26-10 overall while the Griffons are sitting in fourth with a league record of 13-5 and 24-12 overall.
• The Jennies nine game winning streak came to an end last Sunday against Missouri Southern. Both games of the MIAA doubleheader ended in 7-1 scoring with the Lions taking game one and UCM claiming game two.
• Prior to their loss to the Lions, the Jennies recorded four straight MIAA sweeps and saw nine consecutive wins for UCM's longest winning streak since the 2015 season.
• Missouri Western went 2-2 last week with a win and a loss to both Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State. On the weekend, the Griffons out-scored their opponents 28-9 and recorded a season-high 14 hits, 13 runs scored, and 12 RBI in their win over the Lopers.
Watch it Live:
• Both games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/.
• Links to live stats and live video can also be found at ucmathletics.com.
Jennie Notes:
• After posting the league-best batting average for three consecutive weeks, UCM's offense now ranks second in the MIAA with a team batting average of .330 while its .529 slugging percentage continues to lead the league.
• Through 36 games the Jennies offense has recorded 314 hits, 189 runs, 170 RBI and 85 walks. Central Missouri's total hits leads the MIAA and ranks 12th in Division II while the Jennies 38 home runs also ranks 12th in the nation and second in the league.
• Three Jennies currently rank in the league's top-10 offensively lead by
Ashlyn Cook with a .424 batting average to rank fourth in the MIAA.
Abbey Fischer is hitting .381 to rank seventh in the league and
Bailey Fowler's .371 batting average ranks eighth.
• Right fielder Cook also leads the Jennies with 27 RBI and a .697 slugging percentage.
• Center fielder Fowler also leads the UCM offense in runs scored (32), walks (17), and doubles (15). Fowler's 15 doubles leads the MIAA and ranks third in Division II.
• Jennies shortstop and leadoff hitter Fischer posts the team-high 45 hits and leads UCM with 17 stolen bases to rank in the MIAA's top-10 in both categories.
• Defensively, UCM's pitching staff ranks fourth in the MIAA with a team ERA of 2.52. They have allowed the least walks in the league at just 39 walks in 907 at-bats to rank fourth in Division II with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.44.
•
Paige Petefish and
Sadie Parks both rank in the league's top-10 pitching. Petefish posts a team-best ERA of 1.99 to rank second in the MIAA while Parks' ERA of 2.40 ranks seventh.
• Sophomore Petefish also ranks second in the league with a .212 opposing batting average. She also leads the Jennies with 84 strikeouts which ranks fifth in the league. In a team-high 84.1 innings pitched Petefish as allowed 68 hits and 24 earned runs while giving up just 16 walks.
• Freshman Parks has allowed the least amount of walks in the MIAA with just four in 263 at-bats. She ranks fourth individually in Division II with a 15.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
• Central Missouri also post one of the top-25 team fielding percentages in Division II and ranks third in the MIAA with a .971 fielding percentage.
Scouting the Opposition:
MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS (24-12, 13-5 MIAA)
• Through 36 games the Griffons has also out-performed their opponents in every category. On the season, MWSU's offense has recorded 274 hits, 186 runs, 162 RBI and 81 walks while the defense has allowed 211 hits, 102 runs scored, and 75 walks.
• The Griffons team batting average of .288 ranks eighth in the MIAA while their team ERA of 2.50 ranks one spot above the Jennies in fourth.
• The Griffons are led by their second baseman Sydni Hawkins who leads the MIAA with a .532 batting average and a .563 on-base percentage. Hawkins also posts a league-high 59 hits and 43 runs scored. She currently ranks second in Division II in hits while her batting average ranks sixth. Hawkins also leads MWSU with 14 stolen bases, 10 doubles, and seven home runs.
• Hawkins was also named this week's MIAA Hitter of the Week. Through six games last week she hit .571 (12-of-21) with 10 runs scored, two home runs, three RBI and one double. She also went without a strikeout and walked twice for an on-base percentage of .609.
• Catcher Emma Hoffart leads the Griffons with 33 RBI to rank second in the MIAA while her .377 batting average ranks ninth.
• Kaili Hinds and Sydney Rader have made the most appearances in the circle for the Griffons and both have 11 wins on the season.
• Freshman Rader has throw a team-high 99 innings. In 391 at-bats she's allowed 98 hits, 39 earned runs, and 27 walks while leading MWSU with 77 strikeouts.
• Senior Hinds has allowed 73 hits, 30 earned runs, and 29 walks in 341 at-bats. She has 49 strikeouts on the season and posts the team-best opposing batting average of .241.
• Defensively, MWSU posts a league-high 804 putouts and ranks 11th in Division II with nine shutouts on the year.
• The Griffons are 14-6 while playing at home this season.
Previously vs. the Griffons
• Central Missouri leads the all-time series against MWSU 60-32 with the Jennies winning eight of the last 12 meetings.
• The last time UCM and MWSU competed was during an MIAA doubleheader in the 2019 season. The Jennies split with the Griffons falling in game one 6-8 and winning game two 6-3.
• Head Coach
Susan Anderson is 19-16 overall against the Griffons.
Individual Milestones:
• Junior first baseman
Makenzie McAtee is four hits away from her career 100th.
• Sophomore
Paige Petefish recorded her 100th career strikeout against No. 3 Augustana. She is now just 16 strikeouts away from having 100 on the season.
• Sophomore right fielder
Ashlyn Cook and junior third baseman
Jessica Sader recorded their 100th career hits and 100th career putouts earlier this season.
• Head Coach
Susan Anderson recorded her 600th career win in the Jennies 3-1 extra innings victory over Truman State in UCM's fourth game of the season.
Last Time Out:
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (April 18, 2021) - Central Missouri's nine game winning streak came to an end against Missouri Southern Sunday afternoon. Both games ended in 7-1 scoring as the Lions took game one and the Jennies claimed game two.
GAME 1 - Central Missouri 1, Missouri Southern 7
• The first four inning went without a hit or a run.
Kyleigh Lay and the Jennies defense held MSSU with four baserunners while only two UCM hitter reached on base through the first four innings.
• Central Missouri recorded the first hit and run of the day in the bottom of the fifth as third baseman
Jessica Sader was hit home on a fielder's choice by pinch-hitter
Lexi Parks.
• In their following at-bats, the Lions plated three runs off four hits in the top of the sixth inning.
•
Paige Petefish came in to relieve Lay for the final out of the inning as MSSU led 3-1.
• Abby Atkin and the Lions defense held the Jennies with just one hit in five at-bats in the bottom half of the sixth inning.
• While the Jennies offense was stuck, the Lions offense continued to produce hits and score runs. Missouri Southern added four more runs in the top of the seventh off four hits and two UCM errors to take the 7-1 advantage.
• The MSSU defense recorded the second double-play of the game in the bottom of the seventh to hold the Jennies in their final at-bats.
• Missouri Southern totaled eight hits and held the Jennies to a season-low one hit.
• Central Missouri's four errors is a season-high for the defense.
GAME 2 - Central Missouri 7, Missouri Southern 1
• The Jennies offense was quick to score in game two, plating two runs off three hits in the bottom of the first.
• Back-to-back singles to the outfield by
Ashlyn Cook and
Jessica Sader scored both
Bailey Fowler and
Makenzie McAtee, giving the Jennies and early 2-0 advantage.
•
Sadie Parks and the UCM defense held the Lions with four hits in 20 at-bats through the first five innings. A single followed by a double in the top of the sixth scored MSSU's first run of the game.
• The Jennies offense quickly responded to the Lions run scored with a five-run inning in the bottom of the sixth.
• With one out and two runners on first and second, pinch hitter
Abby Allnutt took her first pitch of the day yard, sending it way over left center for a three-run RBI.
•
Abbey Fischer and Fowler would also score off a MSSU error and a McAtee single before the end of the inning, increasing the Jennies lead to 7-1.
• Pagie Petefish and the Jennies defense recorded two strikeouts and a pop up out in the Lions final three at-bats to complete the game.
• Central Missouri out hit MSSU 9-6 in game two.
Season Notes:
• Jennies left field
Makenzie Cooper experienced a season-ending injury in UCM's 13th game of the season. Prior to her injury, Cooper was leading the Jennies offense with a .567 batting average, a 1.133 slugging percentage, and a .629 on-base percentage.
• Central Missouri was able to squeeze 17 games in before the NCAA's cancelation of the remaining spring sport season in March 2020. The Jennies went 11-6 overall and 3-1 in MIAA competition.
• The Jennies were selected fourth in the 2021 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll with 138 total points.
• A total of 15 Jennies return from last year's squad which includes eight position starters. Central Missouri graduated four seniors last spring, including center fielder
Lauryn Deer who led the Jennies with 24 runs scored and 12 stolen bases last season.
• Central Missouri welcomed six newcomers to the 2021 Jennies softball team.
• The 2021 season marks Head Coach
Susan Anderson's 15th season leading Jennies Softball. She posts a 415-305 record at UCM and a 596-477 overall record in her 23rd year as a head coach.
