University of Missouri
Missouri-KansasCity
Mizzou Softball Bounces Kangaroos in Double Header
4/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2002
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri softball team swept a double header from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos on Tuesday night, 1-0 and 11-6. The contests were played at Adair Park, which is located in Independence, Mo., just off of I-70. The Tigers have now won three straight contests and improve to 26-28 overall and 2-11 in the Big 12 Conference. Head coach Jay Miller said he was pleased to see the Tigers do what they had to do to bring home two wins on Tuesday.
"We didn't play our best softball, but we did what it took to get the job done," Miller said. "Our offense was outstanding in Game 2 and we put a lot of pressure on their defense. We need to continue to hit the ball well and we need to continue to improve defensively."
In Game 1 of the day, which began in a driving rain, the two squads battled to a scoreless tie after six innings. Starter Ingrid Werner would work the first 2 2/3 innings not allowing a run but would get into trouble in the top of the third when the Roos loaded the bases with two outs. Miller brought in freshman Erin Kalka, who would squelch the UMKC threat striking out UMKC second baseman Lindsay Kendrick to end the third. UMKC starter Lindsey Davis would cruise through the first five innings allowing only three hits.
However, with one out in the top of the sixth inning, junior Melanie Fisher hit her second home run in as many games deep to center field. The shot was a majestic one that bounced off of the stonewall in center field and took pieces of rock off of the steep face giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead which they would not relinquish. Kalka would make the run stand up as she would work 4 1/3 innings scattering three UMKC hits and no runs while striking out four as she and Werner teamed for the seven-hit shutout. The Kangaroos would out-hit the Tigers in the contest, 7-5, but they would strand nine base runners as the Mizzou defense would hold fast.
The Tigers looked as if they would run away with the second game taking a 3-0 lead on back-to-back to doubles by freshman Heather Kunkel and Erin Erickson and a two run home run by senior Lindsey Jacoby to right center field. The Tigers would continue the offensive assault in the fourth scoring five unearned runs on three hits and three Kangaroo errors giving the Tigers an 8-0 lead. The Tiger's nearly 20-minute offensive half of the fourth inning spelled danger for freshman starter Veronica Flournoy. She had been outstanding heading into the fourth striking out four and giving up only one hit. However, Flournoy would allow the first two batters she faced in the fourth to reach base on a single and a walk and would then give up a home run to left field to clean-up hitter Amanda Rice to cut the Tiger lead to 8-3. She would get the next batter to ground out, but would then give up a double prompting the end of her evening in favor of Werner. Werner would apply the "bend-but-don't-break" philosophy to her outing giving up three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, but the Tigers would spring for three more runs of their own in the fifth taking the game, 11-6.
Mizzou exploded for 15 hits in the game, the second highest single-game hit total it had registered all season and was led by senior Heather Allister and Fisher, who both went 3-for-5 in the game. Nine different Tigers recorded hits and four had two or more hits in the slugfest.
The Tigers continue their busy week on Thursday as they travel to Lawrence, Kan., to take on the Jayhawks. Mizzou has faced KU once already this season, a 2-1 win on Easter in Columbia. The game can be heard on 1580 KTGR in Columbia or via the World Wide Web at www.mutigers.com.
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