UCM Jennies Softball Falls In Playoffs
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Jennies Softball's historic season came to a close with an 8-7 eight-inning loss to California (Pa.) on Saturday at the ASA Hall of Fame Softball Complex. The Jennies end their season 49-16, tying the school record for wins in a season.
The game was scoreless through two innings before the Jennies broke through in the third to take an early lead. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third. Makayla Schoonover then scored the games first run on a wild pitch to put UCM in front. A walk to Jakki Prater loaded the bases again and Lauren Mabe singled to left to score two more runs and the Jennies led 3-0.
The Jennies doubled their lead in the fifth with a couple of big swings from Prater and Mabe. Lindsey Dawson drew a lead-off walk and Prater deposited a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left center to make it 5-0. The home run was Prater's 41st of her career and it was hit No. 222, tying her with Beth Savage for the most in program history. On the very next pitch Mabe belted a solo home run to center to put UCM in front 6-0.
The Vulcans (42-12) responded though with three runs of their own in the bottom half to get back to within three. Kaity Finley had an RBI single to plate the first run and Emily Price followed it up with a run-scoring double to make it 6-2. Lindsay Reicoff added a sacrifice fly and California (Pa.) was right back in the game at 6-3.
That lead stood until the seventh when Cal scored three runs to tie the game. The Vulcans had a runner at second with two outs in the inning, but four straight singles plated three runs and tied the game at 6-all and forced extra innings.
The Jennies got a leadoff single from Carlie Rose in the extra frame. She promptly stole second to give UCM a runner in scoring position with no outs. She was sacrificed over to third base for the first out of the inning, but a strike out and a pop out ended the inning and kept the Jennies from taking the lead.
Erica Vallecorsa led off the home half of the eighth with a double for Cal. She was sacrificed to third and following a lineout to second, Price singled in to right field to give the Vulcans the win and end the Jennies' season.
Prater ended the game 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Mabe was 2-for-4 with a home run and three driven in and Dawson also registered a pair of hits. Prater (15-8) took the loss on the mound for the Jennies after giving up four runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings of relief. Katie Shockley gave up three runs on three hits in 4.1 innings.
Alex Sagl (28-5) earned the win for the Vulcans. She allowed six runs on six hits in five innings of work. She was taken out of the game in the top of the fifth after surrending the back-to-back home runs, but re-entered the game in the top of the eighth after Rose's leadoff single. Meghan Uher tossed three solid innings of relief for Cal allowing just two hits.
(Courtesy of UCM Athletics)