Central Missouri senior pitcher Megan Leonard tied the NCAA Division II mark for consecutive scoreless innings pitched to help the Jennies to a 2-0 victory over Emporia State April 17. Incredibly, though, Leonard gave up a lead-off homer against Washburn the following day to end the streak.

Leonard (15-1) had not allowed a run in 83 2/3 innings dating back to March 17. She matched the mark set by Shippensburg’s Kelley Tiesi from March 6 to April 10, 2004. The collegiate (all-divisions) mark is 105 by Danielle Henderson of Massachusetts from March 16 to May 2, 1999.

Leonard retired 12 of the first 13 Emporia State batters she faced before senior catcher Aubree Brattin's lead-off bunt single in the fifth inning broke up Leonard’s bid for a third no-hitter of the season. She fanned nine to go with allowing a two-out walk in the first inning and two other hits.

Slipper Rock baseball coach notches 750

Slippery Rock baseball coach Jeff Messer recorded his 750th career victory April 10 when The Rock defeated Mercyhurst, 13-9.

Messer now owns a 750-428-4 record in 24 seasons as Slippery Rock’s head coach. He leads all active Pennsylvania college head coaches in career victories as well and ranks second on the state’s all-time wins list behind former Temple coach James Wilson, who won 1,034 games in 46 seasons.

Messer, a former member of the Division II Baseball Committee, began the 2009 season ranked 12th among active NCAA Division II head coaches, 20th on the all-time Division II wins list, 22nd in winning percentage among active Division II coaches and 47th in all-time winning percentage.

Only the fourth man to serve as head baseball coach at Slippery Rock, Messer has guided teams to 15 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division championships, two PSAC titles, two PSAC runner-up finishes, four NCAA regional championships and subsequent appearances in the Division II finals and two regional runner-up honors.

Messer-coached squads have averaged 31 wins per season since 1986 and earned berths in 18 PSAC playoffs and 12 NCAA regional tournaments.