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Jennies eliminated in two games at NCAA-II Regional

Jennies go 0-2 at NCAA-II North Central Regional

The Central Missouri Jennies softball team dropped two hard fought games and was eliminated from the NCAA-II North Central Regional in Emporia, Kan. The third-seeded Jennies fell 2-1 to No. 6 seed Winona State in the first round before being eliminated by Northwest Missouri State 1-0 in 11 innings.

UCM (36-22) had numerous early opportunities against the Warriors, but were unable to capitalize. The Jennies had runners at first and second with less than two outs in the first two innings, but could not score.

UCM had another runner at second with one out when Tracey Anderson doubled to deep center in the third, but she was stranded.

Winona State plated two runs in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. Amanda Wilhelm had a one-out single and scored on Mollie Bjelland’s triple to right center. Bjelland also scored on the play when the ball bounced away from the Jennies cut-off.

UCM closed to within one in the sixth when Kherri-Dean Hummer led off with a home run to left center. However, the Jennies could get no closer and fell to the Warriors 2-1.

Megan Leonard (20-9) was the tough luck loser, scattering five hits and allowing one earned run. She walked one and struck out 10. The Jennies left seven runners on base, including four in scoring position.

The Jennies took on Northwest Missouri State in the first elimination game of the tournament. UCM once again battled the Bearcats into extra innings, but this time the Jennies came out on the losing end, 1-0 in 11 innings.

Just as in game one, the Jennies had early opportunities but couldn’t capitalize. UCM left five runners on base in the first three innings and 10 for the game.

UCM had a runner at second with no outs in the fourth, but couldn’t score. Angela Selby pinch-ran after a Katie Bauer single and stole second, but two strikeouts and a groundout ended the threat. Marisha Branson singled and went to second on an error in the fifth, but a strikeout and flyout set the Jennies down in the fifth.

The game remained scoreless until the top half of the 11th. The Bearcats started the inning with a walk and a single. The third batter tried to bunt, but popped it up Bauer who threw to first to double up Casey Carper. The next batter hit a ground ball that took a tough hop and bounced into the outfield allowing the go-ahead run to score.

In the bottom of the 11th, Bauer smacked a one-out triple to right-center to put the Jennies in business. However, a suicide squeeze failed and Bauer was picked off for the second out of the inning. The next batter struck out and the game was over.

Kristal Holland (12-8) took the loss, allowing two hits and one unearned run in two innings of work. Leonard started the game and tossed nine solid innings. She scattered four hits with six strikeouts to raise her season total to 303.

The Jennies finish the season 36-22, including a 12-6 MIAA mark. UCM finished second in the MIAA regular season and in the MIAA postseason tournament. The North Central regional tournament bid was the second straight for UCM.