Sports : UCM
Jennies eliminated from NCAA Tournament
May 9, 2008, 11:42
***image1:center**EMPORIA, Kan. -- 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.
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.
