University of Missouri
Drake
Missouri Softball Team Blanks Drake, 8-0
3/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 12, 2006
Columbia, Mo. - After a rain storm delayed Missouri's Saturday afternoon softball game against Drake, the Tigers (13-7) and Bulldogs (8-13) continued play today in the top of the seventh inning on University Field, with Missouri recording its third shutout of the season in an 8-0 victory. Missouri's second game of the second annual Tiger Invitational saw sophomore ace Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) throw a one-hitter on her way to her 12th victory of the season. Strong offensively, Bruck and freshman Gina Schneider (Liberty, Mo.) crushed Missouri's 17th and 18th home runs of the season in the fourth and seventh innings, respectively.
Junior third baseman Amanda Jo White (Tallmadge, Ohio) scored Missouri's first run of the game. White led off the top of the third with a single up the middle, advancing to second on catcher Alyson Tobyne's (Gilbert, Ariz.) groundout to Drake second baseman Jamie Dejarlais. In her attempt to steal third, Jaci Faidley, covering third for Drake, interfered and White was given the base. White scored on a squeeze play after junior second baseman Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) laid down a bunt.
Missouri scored four runs in the top of the sixth and lit up Drake pitcher Cassie Heller, scoring three runs on four hits, before right-handed Stephanie Clayton entered in relief. Batting from the two hole, Schneider knocked a one out standup double to left center, advancing home on a double to left center by Bruck. Redshirt sophomore Micalea Minner (Sanger, Texas) took her turn at the plate and singled down the right field line to score Bruck. Missouri's fourth consecutive hit came from sophomore first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.). Renth doubled to left field sending Minner home and bringing Clayton to the circle. The first pitch out ofa Clayton's hand was a wild pitch that sent sophomore Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.), pinch running for Renth, to third. Starting in left field for the first time of her career, Masterson drew a walk to reach first and senior Joanne Loethen (St. Thomas, Mo.) entered as a pinch runner. White was out number two with a groundout and Loethen advanced to second. Tobyne walked and advanced to second on a throw sending Loethen to third and Henke home on an error by Faidley. The inning came to an end as Stringer grounded out to Clayton.
Lightning and rain beginning at 3:01 delayed the game until 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Prior to the start of the rain, Missouri added two runs to their total in the top of the seventh. Freshman Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) led off with a single and Schneider hit a two-run homer over the centerfield wall before the game was called and the teams sent to the dugout.
Drake notched its only hit of the game in the bottom of the seventh when Bulldog first baseman Marilyn Buss punched a one out double to left field.
Missouri will continue its homestand Wednesday, March 15 in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. (CST) against the University of Northern Iowa.
