The Central Missouri Jennies softball team lost both games of a doubleheader against the Emporia State Hornets on April 29 during Cancer Awareness Day at Jennies Field in Warrensburg. The Jennies fell by scores of 3-2 and 9-6, concluding their regular season.
The outcome is significant as it marks the end of the regular season for Central Missouri, who finished with a record of 33-17 overall and 14-10 in conference play. Emporia State improved to 28-15 overall and 14-8 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
In the first game, Taylor Kvale gave Central Missouri an early lead with a sacrifice fly that scored Aly Hageman. Marisa Johnson added another run with her own sacrifice fly, bringing home Kyrsten Moran. However, Emporia State tied the game in the fourth inning and took the lead for good in the fifth. Bailey Brumley took the loss as pitcher for Central Missouri, while Lexi Blackmon led offensively with two hits.
During game two, Emporia State built an early four-run advantage before Central Missouri responded to tie it at four runs apiece after RBI contributions from Kvale, Jadyn Sheffield, and Moran. The Hornets pulled ahead again with five runs in the fifth inning. Although Johnson and Blackmon drove in runs late for Central Missouri, they could not overcome the deficit. Riley Bebb was charged with the loss on the mound for this contest, while Blackmon had four hits across both games.
As their regular season ends with these losses, Central Missouri will look ahead to postseason opportunities.
