Jungerman tosses no-hitter for Lady Vikes

Freshman Janie Jungerman fired the first no-hitter of her college softball career Wednesday to lead Missouri Valley to a 6-1 victory in the second game of a home doubleheader against Heart of America Conference rival William Jewell.

Three first-inning errors cost the St. Dominic of O'Fallon product a shutout, which would have been fatal in the early game -- when junior teammate Tatum Hathcock blanked the Lady Cardinals for 10 innings before dropping a 3-1 decision in the 12th.

Hathcock allowed only two hits through 11 frames, the teams tied 1-1 after both plated the runner placed on second base to begin the extra innings under the international tiebreaker rule.

In the 12th, Jewell got a bunt single by senior Amber Parker of Chillicothe. Freshman Amanda Storm singled in a run, with a sacrifice fly bringing in Parker.

Storm, who had taken over on the mound in the seventh, gave up a two-out single to junior Wendy Garcia before subduing the Lady Vikings.

Valley came back from its early 1-0 deficit in the nightcap to score three runs in the third. Juniors Kelly Smith and Edna Gutierrez singled, an error letting the first runner cross. Seniors Lindsey Stapp, junior Janae Borrego and senior Heather Sliger produced the next two runs.

Singles by Stapp, Borrego and Sliger singled to begin the fifth with a run before senior Kimberly Fuller drilled a two-run triple.

Jungerman walked only one batter and struck out three for her third win in a row. At one point, she retired 16 straight Lady Cardinals (26-22, 10-10 HAAC).

The Lady Vikings (27-20, 12-8), fourth in the final regular season standings, will host Jewell for a best-of-three first-round series in the HAAC Tournament -- with two games Saturday and the third Sunday, if necessary, in the Lyon Bowl.