Head coaches Rhesa Sumrell (center) of CMSU and Brad Horky of Pittsburg State found themselves on the outside looking in after both were ejected from the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Wednesday was supposed to be Rhesa Sumrell's day. To be sure, it's a day the longtime Central Missouri State softball coach won't soon forget.

Less than 30 minutes after being honored for achieving her 800th career coaching victory, Sumrell was ejected for the first time in her tenure at CMSU. Moments later, she was joined by Pittsburg State head coach Brad Horky, who was booted for arguing a call on the same play Sumrell was disputing.

Meanwhile, the Jennies and Pitt State split a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheader at Jennies Field. Central Missouri won game one 7-2 while the Gorillas took the nightcap 7-2.

The Jennies jumped ahead in the first inning of the opener, scoring three runs with two out. After Megan Bax and Kym Caskey singled, Miranda Myer ripped a double into the left-center field gap, driving in both runners.

Katie Bauer followed with a single to center to score Myer for a 3-0 lead. The real fun, however, was just around the corner.

In the second inning, Kherri-Dean Hummer led off with a single. Two pitches later, Pitt State catcher Cassie Buche fired down to first.

Hummer dove back to the bag. Base umpire Gary Brammer asked for help from home plate umpire John Bradley, who called Hummer out on the play.

That brought Sumrell onto the field to voice her displeasure with Brammer for being out of position and with Bradley for the call. After things settled down, Kristy Furrer reached base on an error and Heather Whitcomb singled to put runners at first and second.

Melissa Palmer laid down a bunt. Buche's throw hit Palmer in the back as she reached first and collided with PSU second baseman Lyndsey Crosswhite, who was covering on the play.

CMSU's Heather Whitcomb reaches for the plate as she slides past Pitt State catcher Cassie Buche in the second inning of Wednesday's first game. Whitcomb was called out on the play. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Furrer came around to score and Whitcomb was waved around as well. Crosswhite fired to the plate to Buche, who made the tag, but the ball ended up on the ground.

Whitcomb was called out, prompting another protest from Sumrell, who also argued the catcher was blocking the plate illegally before she had the ball. Bradley didn't take long to toss the Jennies' head coach from the game.

Thinking Palmer had been called out for running inside the baseline and interfering with Crosswhite, Horky surmised the out at the plate completed a bizarre double play and called his team off the field. However, Bradley had not made an interference or obstruction call.

Upon hearing that, Horky began to argue with Bradley and was, himself, ejected. He and Sumrell watched the remainder of the game, side-by-side, from beyond the left field fence.

Jennies' left-hander Meredith Muenks earned a complete-game victory in game one of Wednesday's twin bill. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

When play resumed, Bax capped the inning with an RBI single to score Palmer for a 5-0 edge. The Jennies added single runs in the fourth and fifth to lead 7-0.

CMSU pitcher Meredith Muenks took a shutout into the sixth inning before surrendering single runs in the sixth and seventh to make the final 7-2. The left-hander struck out two and walked four while allowing two runs and nine hits, improving her record to 5-1.

Bax led the offense, going 4-for-4 with two RBI. Whitcomb and Hummer had two hits each in the Jennies 13-hit attack.

Game 2

Pittsburg State jumped on CMSU starter Lauren Young for four runs in the first inning of game two. JoAnna Brozovich rapped a two-run single to cap the rally.

In the second inning, PSU put runners on first and second with one out. Power hitter Emily Gastineau, who had been intentionally walked three times in game one and once more in the first inning of game two, stepped to the plate.

This time, Gastineau crushed a high drive that hit the roof of the South Recreation Complex offices and locker room, some 70 feet beyond the left-center field fence. The three-run homer made it 7-0.

Central Missouri tried to scratch back, scoring single runs in the second and third innings. However, the Jennies stranded nine runners and lost three more on the basepaths, wasting an 11-hit effort.

"We were blessed to get a split," Sumrell said. "After all that in the first game, I'm really proud of my girls that they kept their heads in the ball game and preserved their lead. I think we're better than what we're playing."

Jennies senior Megan Bax went 6-for-8 in Wednesday's doubleheader against Pittsburg State. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Bax went 2-for-4 with one RBI and finished 6-for-8 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. The senior raised her average to .321.

"I felt really comfortable in the box and was seeing the ball real well," Bax said. "I worked on my hitting earlier today before the game and I've been feeling a lot more confident for a week or so."

Whitcomb, Young and Hummer also had two hits each.

The split leaves Central Missouri with a record of 11-8 overall, 1-1 in MIAA play. Despite some early season struggles, Bax feels the team is making good progress.

"We're starting to put it together," she said. "We've made a lot of changes lately in our defense and our approach to everything. I think we've got a good combination now and it's working for us."

Central Missouri travels to Emporia, Kan. to compete in the Emporia State Tournament. The Jennies will face Fort Hays State, Augustana (S.D.) and Cameron (Okla.) Friday.

Saturday, CMSU will play Augustana and Emporia State.

Jennies' head coach Rhesa Sumrell was honored for her 800th career win prior to Wednesday's doubleheader. The coach was presented with a commemorative plaque and the team's seniors (left to right) Megan Bax, Kristy Furrer, Kym Caskey and Miranda Myer, presented her with an autographed ball. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Sumrell Honored for 800th Win

Prior to Wednesday's doubleheader, Sumrell was honored for achieving her 800th career victory, a 4-1 win over Missouri-St. Louis at the Teri Mathis Zenner Memorial Tournament in Joplin, Mo., Saturday, March 11.

"Those milestones are indicative of winning a lot of games with good players," Sumrell said. "We've been very fortunate to have some good runs here. It means you've been doingit a long time and doing things right. But, Central Missouri is an easy place to win."

Now in her 20th season at Central Missouri and 31st season overall, Sumrell's record stands at 801-510 after Wednesday's twin bill split.