JOPLIN, Mo. -- Central Missouri Jennies softball opened its 2022 MIAA slate with a doubleheader split at Missouri Southern Sunday, March 13, at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex, falling in game one, 4-2, before bouncing back in the nightcap with a 6-3 victory.
The Jennies (6-13, 1-1 MIAA) are slated to head to Pittsburg, Kan., for an MIAA twin bill at Pittsburg State Monday, March 14, beginning at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Missouri Southern 4, Central Missouri 2
In UCM's 4-2 loss in game one, the Jennies were held to just four hits in the contest.
Laney Killpack paced Central Missouri offensively in the opener, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, while
Aubrie McRoberts,
Abbey Fischer and
Makenzie McAtee each had one hit.
UCM reliever
Kyleigh Lay (2-3) suffered the setback in the circle after allowing two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 4 1/3 innings of work.
Ashlynn Williams went 2-for-3 with a double, leading Missouri Southern at the plate.
Amos Kara (6-4) took the win for MSSU, surrendering two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and one walk in the full seven innings.
The Jennies and Lions were tied, 2-2, after each scoring a pair of runs in the second inning before Missouri Southern plated what proved to be the decisive two runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Game 2: Central Missouri 6, Missouri Southern 3
In Central Missouri's 6-3, bounce-back victory in the nightcap, the Jennies scored three runs in the top of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie and post the win.
Fischer scored the opening run of the seventh after crossing home plate on a Lion error prior to
Jessica Sader smacking an RBI single through the right side, scoring pinch-runner
Lexi Blackmon, inching the UCM advantage to 5-3.
Ashlyn Cook drove in the final run of the inning, plating
Abby Allnutt on an RBI ground-out to second base.
Sader went 2-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in, while Fischer added a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored and a triple, leading Central Missouri in the batter's box in game two.
Gentry Wishard (2-2) earned the win in the circle for UCM, allowing three earned run on eight hits with four strikeouts in six innings, and Lay picked up her first save of 2022 after tossing a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning.
Leighton Withers had two hits in three at bats, including a double, and compiled an RBI, pacing Missouri Southern.
Lacy Bailey (4-3) took the loss for Missouri Southern, giving up six runs -- three earned -- on 10 hits with five strikeouts and a walk in 6 1/3 innings.
