University of Missouri
Nebraska
Mizzou Shocks No. 4 Nebraska
4/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2002
Lincoln, Neb.- The University of Missouri softball team registered one of its best efforts of the season on Sunday taking a 4-2 win over No. 4 Nebraska. Senior Erin Erickson and junior Melanie Fisher each blasted their second home runs of the season accounting for three of the Tiger's four runs. Mizzou also received an excellent pitching performance from freshman Erin Kalka, who worked 5 2/3 innings of relief striking out eight to pick up her 11th win of the season.
Mizzou would begin the game with a bang as Fisher slammed a solo home run deep to left field off of the scoreboard staking Mizzou to a 1-0 lead. The Tigers would strike again on a double by senior Mary McGrane that scored Erickson from second to give Mizzou a 2-0 lead
After registering a quality 9.0-inning effort yesterday, junior Ingrid Werner would take the hill for the Tigers once again on Sunday. After retiring the Huskers in order in the first, Werner gave up a leadoff walk, a single and then hit Lisa Wangler to load the bases. Werner then walked Cindy Roethemeyer to score the Huskers first run. Kalka would then enter the game and get NU's Anne Steffan to hit a ground ball to third base and sophomore Rachael McGinnis threw home to record the second out of the inning, but the bases were still loaded. Kalka would step up in a big way against the Huskers leading hitter, Kim Ogee, striking her out to end the threat with the Tigers still in the lead, 2-1.
The Tiger offense would once again strike in the fourth inning. McGinnis opened the inning with a walk. After freshman Heather Kunkel flied out to center field, Erickson stepped to the plate and slammed another scoreboard shot to left field giving Mizzou a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Kalka would hold the Husker's offense at bay for the next two innings. In the bottom of the sixth, she would give up a leadoff single to right field. After recording the first out of the inning on the next play, Peaches James would double to center field driving in pinch-runner Briana Bates. Kalka would get the next batter to ground out back to her and then strike out Lisa Wangler to end the Nebraska threat with the Tigers still leading, 4-2.
Kalka would dominate the Huskers in the seventh striking out two of the final three batters and getting Ogee to ground out to Lindsey Jacoby to end the game. The Tiger offense was balanced once again with six Tiger recording hits in the game. The win was the Tigers fourth win over a ranked team of 2002 and their second over a Top 10 squad. Head coach Jay Miller said he was very pleased with the poise and focus the Tigers showed once they got up on the Huskers.
"We showed a lot of maturity and focus in some tough spots today," Miller said. "Nebraska is one of the best teams in the country from top to bottom and we competed with them all weekend. I think that shows a lot about what our team and our kids are made of."
The Tigers are now 24-28 overall and 2-11 in the Big 12. Mizzou begins a crazy week on Tuesday traveling to Independence, Mo., to take on the Kangaroos of UMKC in a double header with first pitch set for 5 pm. The Tigers will then travel to Kansas for single game with the Jayhawks on Thursday before returning home for a weekend series with Texas Tech. All of the games can be heard on 1580 KTGR in Columbia or via the world wide web at www.mutigers.com.
