University of Missouri
SeMissouriSt
Tiger Softball Pummels Otahkians, 10-2 and 12-0
4/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2002
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri softball team took out some offensive frustration it had experienced of late on Wednesday taking two games from Southeast Missouri State 10-2 in five innings and 12-0 in five innings. Mizzou out-hit the Otahkians 24-9 in the two games and improves to 23-23 overall and remains at 1-6 in the Big 12 while the Otahkians fall to 5-16 overall and 2-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Missouri head coach Jay Miller said he was very pleased with both the Tigers offensive execution and the outstanding pitching performance Mizzou got from freshman Erin Kalka.
"It was good to see us come out and take care of business at the plate tonight," Miller said. "We were smart and swung at good pitches and laid off marginal offerings which gave Erin some room to work. She was outstanding again for us and really worked batters well."
The Tigers would jump all over the Otahkians staking to a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the third. After allowing only two hits in the first two innings, starter Veronica Flournoy ran into trouble in the third giving up four straight SEMO hits and two earned runs pulling to within one at 3-2. Kalka would enter the game in relief of Flournoy and proved to be nearly untouchable giving up only two hits while striking out five giving up no runs the rest of the way picking up her ninth win of the season. The Tigers would provide plenty of offense behind Kalka striking for six runs in the bottom of the third and a run in the bottom of the fifth to induce the mercy rule and take the game 10-2. The top five hitters of the Tiger line-up (Sara Vassmer, Morgan LeCluyse, Rachael McGinnis, Melanie Fisher and Heather Kunkel) were sensational going a collective 10-for-15 with seven RBIs while scoring six of the Tigers 10 runs. LeCluyse and McGinnis led the charge going 2-for-2 and 2-for-3 with two RBI's each in the Tigers 22 win of the season.
After evening her overall record at 9-9 in the first game of the day pitching only 3.0 innings, Kalka would take the ball once again starting game two. She was masterful once again working 5.0 scoreless innings allowing only three Otahkian hits while striking out seven improving her record to 10-9 on the year. Kalka had plenty of run support as the Tigers rallied for three two-out runs in the first inning, two runs in the second, six runs in the third and a run in the fourth to take the game 12-0 in five innings. Mizzou did a nice job of producing runs and received contribution from its entire line up with nine different Tigers adding to the hit total of 13. LeCluyse continued her big day going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored while recording her eighth double of the season. Fisher and senior Erin Erickson also had good nights at the plate going 2-for-3 while freshman Heather Kunkel went 1-for-2 extending a career-best six game hit streak.
The Tigers are now back to the .500 mark for the first time since Mar. 27 at 23-23. They return to their Big 12 schedule on Saturday as they welcome the Baylor Bears to University Field for a 7 pm game. The Tigers will then face Baylor again on Sunday at 1 pm. For more information on Tiger softball, log on to www.mutigers.com.
