University of Missouri
OklahomaSt
Tiger Softball Drops Fifth Straight
3/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 29, 2002
Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri softball team dropped its fifth straight contest on Friday night to Oklahoma State, 5-2. The Tigers are now 19-21 overall and 0-5 in the Big 12. Head coach Jay Miller said he thought the Tigers played well in the field, but need to pick it up offense.
"We need to be much smarter at the plate when we face top-quality pitchers like Bay," Miller said. "I thought we played pretty well defensively overall but we need to hit the ball."
Mizzou fell victim to a great pitching performance by Big 12 pitcher of the week Lauren Bay, who limited the Tigers to just one hit (a single by junior Sara Vassmer) in 7.0 innings of work. Bay struck out 11 Tiger batters but walked five, which would lead to both of the Tigers runs in the fourth and fifth inning. Freshman Erin Kalka was equally as impressive through five innings limiting OSU to only two runs and one hit heading into the top of the sixth with the game tied at 2-2. However, after retiring the first batter of the inning, Kalka would run out of gas in the top of the sixth. After walking Stephanie Hodges, Kalka gave up a two-run home run to left field off of the scoreboard to Ryan Realmuto that would give OSU a 4-2 advantage. Kalka would allow three more hits and one more run in the inning and would leave the game after the sixth with the Cowgirls running out to a 5-2 advantage. Bay would dominate from there striking out four of the Tigers final seven batters that would come to the plate shutting the door on Mizzou, 5-2.
Vassmer's lone hit in the contest did extend her current hitting streak to three games heading into Saturday. The Tigers will take on the Cowboys again on Saturday with first pitch set for 1 pm at University Field. Mizzou will then face vaunted rival Kansas on Sunday at 3 pm. For more information on Missouri softball, log on to www.mutigers.com.
