University of Missouri
Northern Iowa
Tiger Softball Team Sweeps Northern Iowa
3/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2006
Box Score
Columbia, Mo. - Missouri (15-8) came from behind to win its second game of a doubleheader against Northern Iowa (7-13-1), 6-4. The victory helped the Tigers complete a sweep of the Panthers and gives them a 24-7 record in the all-time series and 7-1 record at home. All three pitchers on Missouri's staff played in the evening game, with freshman Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) earning the win, her second of the season (2-2).
Down 3-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, Missouri evened the score with back-to-back home runs from senior outfielder Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) and sophomore Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.). Earlier in the inning, with one out, junior second baseman Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) drew a walk from Panther pitcher Monica Wright to reach first. Returning to the top of the order, junior outfielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) popped up to shortstop Rachel Rogers to bring Roening to the plate. Roening's two-run homer was her third of the season, while Bruck's was her fifth. Altogether, the Tigers have notched 25 home runs this season.
Missouri pulled ahead in the sixth frame on junior catcher Alyson Tobyne's (Gilbert, Ariz.) single down the right field line that sent junior Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) sliding home from second base. Masterson led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt laid down by freshman third baseman Gina Schneider (Liberty, Mo.). After reaching first on Missouri's seventh hit of the game, Tobyne ran to second on the throw, third on a passed ball and scored on a two-out single down the left field line by Stringer. Stringer stole second and scored Missouri's final run of the inning on a Bower's single.
With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, the Panthers came within two runs of the Tigers, scoring one run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by leadoff hitter Jamie Kelling. With runners on the corners, Dennis shut down the inning by forcing leftfielder Nikki Ferden to fly out.
Bruck started in the circle for the Tigers, her 10th start of the season, and was relieved by Masterson in the top of the fourth. After twirling two innings, Dennis entered the game and secured a Tiger victory,
Missouri continues its homestand with a three-game weekend series against Louisville beginning Saturday, March 18, at 2 p.m. (CST). The Tigers and Cardinals will play two games on Saturday, the second beginning at 4 p.m. (CST) and a final game Sunday at noon.
