Missouri
Arkansas
Tigers Pull Out 12-11 Win, Head to Tournament Championship
2/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2007
Fayetteville, Ark. - In a game of five lead changes and one tie, the Missouri softball team (13-6) pulled out a seventh inning victory over Arkansas (5-10) to win 12-10 and advance to the championship game of the Clarion Inn Lady'Back Invitational set to begin at 3 p.m. (CT) in Lady'Back Park.
The Tigers and Lady Razorbacks combined for 29 hits on the game, Missouri connecting on a season high 14 base knocks. Five of Missouri's hits were for extra bases, with three in the books as home runs. Senior Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) came up with Missouri's biggest hit of the game, a two out single up the middle that drove in pinch runner Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.) from third and sophomore Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) from second. Henke entered the game for junior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.), who reached base on balls, while Stringer reached on a single to right field. Both runners advanced one base on a wild pitch by Miranda Dixon, her first pitch of the game after entering in relief for Katy Henry.
Freshman Alaina Jacobson (Crocker, Mo.) made her second start of the season in the circle allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits and one Tiger error in the first inning of play. Held hitless in the bottom half of the inning, Missouri's bats warmed in the second, scoring five runs, three of which came across on two Tiger home runs.
Redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) got things started for Missouri with her 28th career home run. Crushing the ball deep over the center field wall, Minner's solo shot set off a string of hits including back-to-back singles by catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) and Stringer. With two outs on the board, freshman Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) drove in two runs with a double to the corner in left field. Missouri returned to the top of the order where senior outfielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo,) connected on her second home run of the season. Both home runs moved Minner and Bowers further up the Missouri career home run record book, with Minner now tied at first alongside teammate Bruck and Bowers tied at seventh with 17.
Stringer had a breakout day at the plate going 4-for-4 with three RBI and four runs. Hitting from the seven hole, Stringer smoked a three run homer in the bottom of the third over the center field wall. As a team, Missouri has tallied 11 home runs this season.
Entering the game for the final two innings, freshman Alaina Jacobson (Crocker, Mo.) was credited with the win, her third of the season. Missouri's four pitchers combined for four strikeouts (two looking, two swinging), 12 groundouts and five flyouts, stranding 10 Lady Razorbacks on base.
Missouri is now 5-0 in the Clarion Lady'Back Invitational and will take on Wichita State in the championship game.
