University of Missouri
IowaSt
Tigers Drop Double Header to Cyclones in Ames
3/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2002
Ames, Iowa - The University of Missouri softball team dropped two games to Iowa State on Wednesday in Ames, Iowa, 10-2 and 4-1. Mizzou fell victim to quality ISU pitching and a 35 mph north wind giving up three Cyclone home runs as it dropped its third and fourth consecutive contests. Head coach Jay Miller said the Tigers are still struggling with consistency both at the plate and on the mound.
"We came out flat in the first game and couldn't recover from the slow start," Miller said. "Our approach and overall consistency needs to improve and we need to seize the opportunities we have coming up to win some ball games."
The Tigers fell victim to two big innings in Game 1. After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first and cruising through the first three batters of the ISU line up, the Tigers allowed Iowa State to score six runs on four hits and one error in the bottom of the second. Mizzou would begin to make a comeback scoring a run in the fourth when senior Mary McGrane singled in freshman Heather Kunkel and in the fifth when junior Sara Vassmer scored on a passed ball making the score 6-2.
The floodgates would open once again open in the sixth when the Cyclones would spring for three unearned runs to take a 9-2 lead. ISU would tack on one more run in the bottom of the sixth to take the game 10-2 due to the mercy rule. Freshman Erin Kalka, who was struggling with flu-like symptoms through out the game, took the loss as she started the game giving up four runs in 1.0 innings of work falling to 7-8 on the season. ISU starter Erica Martinez was excellent allowing only five hits in the complete-game 6.0 inning effort.
The Cyclones would once again jump out to an early lead in Game 2 scoring a run on three hits off of starter Ingrid Werner. Mizzou would respond with a run in the third when sophomore Rachael McGinnis drove in her team-leading 33rd RBI scoring Sara Vassmer tying the game at one after three innings. However, Iowa State would once again answer with a big inning scoring three runs in the fourth on four hits to take a 4-1 lead that Cyclone starter Jen Bice would not relinquish retiring the final 14 Tigers she faced to take the win. Werner took the loss for Mizzou falling to 8-6 on the year.
Sophomore Morgan LeCluyse was one of the few Tigers to have a good offensive day going 2-for-5 with her fifth and sixth doubles of the year. After going 0-for-3 in Game 1 of the day, McGinnis rebounded in a big way going 2-for-3 driving in the Tigers lone run in Game 2
The Tigers are now 19-20 and 0-4 in the Big 12 heading into a crucial three-game home stretch this weekend. Mizzou welcomes Oklahoma State for games on Friday and Saturday and then take on vaunted rival Kansas at University Field on Sunday for an Easter egg fight. For more information on Missouri Softball, log on to www.mutigers.com.
