Feb. 9, 2000

The Tigers open their spring season with the Metrodome Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. After an impressive 13-1 fall season, including two wins against Arizona State, and rigorous winter training, the 2000 Tigers are ready to take the field with a roar.

Leading the Tigers this season are five seniors, who have all made an impact in their time at Missouri. Potential All-American centerfielder Stacy Gemeinhardt will once again be the Tigers' leadoff batter. Gemeinhardt's speed allows her to cover a lot of ground in the outfield, as well as serve as one of the team's leading hitters and baserunners. Amy Farmer will start her fourth year calling the game from behind the plate. Her steady performance at catcher has been a source of comfort for the Tiger infielders. Although Christy Skouby spent last season in the outfield, she is not a new face at first base. Skouby won All-Big 12 honors at first base in 1998. Linda Swarts played most of last year at third base. This year she might see her role changing, and be used as a designated player. She exudes a strong presence at the plate and will provide power to the Tiger lineup, even when not playing in the field. Christy Caccavo provided the Tigers with a quality No. 2 pitcher last season. She will continue in that role and will add tremendous depth to the Tiger pitching staff. She had a successful fall season with a 4-0 record and a 0.77 ERA.

Also crucial to this team is pitching ace and All-American candidate Stephanie Falk. Falk has steadily improved since her arrival at Missouri and has developed into one of the top pitchers in the country. She finished the fall season with a 0.00 ERA and a 5-0 record, including two wins over Arizona State.

Junior Karen Williams will be starting for the Tigers in right field. She received some starts in that position in each of the last two years but had been playing behind some talented upperclassmen. This season the position is hers and the Tigers will rely on her speed, both in the outfield and around the bases.

Sophomore Lindsey Jacoby and freshmen Dara Throneburg and Sara Vassmer will have their first collegiate, regular-season starts in Minnesota. Jacoby and Throneburg will fill in the middle infield positions. Vassmer is expected to take over where Wendy Harrison left off in left field. All three improved their hitting over the fall season and will add a spark to the Tiger lineup.

Sophomores Erin Erickson and Mary McGrane are both top candidates to fill out the Tigers starting lineup. Erickson can play both corner positions in the infield, and is strong at the plate. She was used as the Tigers designated player at the end of last season but started at third in the fall. McGrane is a strong catcher who has the strength to drive the ball as well. This fall she hit two home runs well over the University Field scoreboard.

Waiting for the call in the bull pen will be freshman pitcher Ingrid Werner. She rounds out the Tiger pitching staff and makes it one of the strongest in the country. Werner showed maturity beyond her years in the fall season. She finished with a 0.58 ERA and a 4-1 record. Her only loss came in a 10-inning shoot-out with Arizona State.

Sophomore Sara McNeal and freshman Kristen Burke will mainly be used as base runners. McNeal can play any position if she is called upon. Most of her time on the field has been spent at second base. Burke adds a strong fourth outfielder.

Tiger History at the Metrodome

2000 marks the third consecutive season the Tigers have opened regular-season play at the Metrodome Classic. The Tigers are 8-4 in two years at the tournament.

In 1998 the Tigers went 5-1 and won the tournament. Their only loss was to Big 12 Conference rival Kansas in a 2-1, 10-inning decision in the Round Robin portion of the tournament.

Missouri was not so lucky in 1999, however. The Tigers went 3-3, losing twice to Kansas and once to host Minnesota.

The Metrodome seems to like pitcher Stephanie Falk. She has a 6-1 record in the tournament. She has only recorded five earned runs in 47.1 innings. She was the tournament MVP in 1998 and was named to the all-tournament team last season.

Four other members of the Tiger team have made the all-tournament team each year. Stacy Gemeinhardt, Wendy Harrison, Nikki Herman and Karen Williams made the team in 1998 in addition to Falk. Amy Farmer, Shawna Robinson, Kim Slover and Jamie Lowry made the team in addition to Falk last year.

The Low Down on the Opposition

The Tigers will face Lousiville, Western Illinois and Alabama on Friday and Northern Iowa and host, Minnesota on Saturday before beginning bracket play.

This will be the first meeting between Lousiville and Missouri. This is Lousiville's inaugural season.

The Tigers hold a 15-3 all-time record over Western Illinois. The last time the two teams met was Feb. 12, 1999 at the Metrodome. The Tigers won 2-0 in nine innings. Stacy Gemeinhardt and Shawna Robinson scored the runs for the Tigers in the top of the ninth. Stephanie Falk picked up the win.

Missouri faced off with Alabama for the first time last year in NCAA Regional play in Los Angeles. They met after both had lost their opening round games. Stephanie Falk pitched a great game for the Tigers to pick up the 1-0 win and send Alabama home. Wendy Harrison scored the Tigers' run on a bunt single by Kim Slover.

Northern Iowa and Missouri have met 24 times, with Missouri leading the series 19-5. The last time the two teams met was Feb. 21, 1999 in the Missouri Round Robin. Missouri won 4-2. Falk picked up the win for the Tigers.

It seems as though Missouri can't escape playing Minnesota. Although the teams have only met 14 times, four of those times have been in the last two years, including three times last season. The last time the two teams met was in the NCAA Regional. Missouri won 3-0 to advance to the championship game and send Minnesota home. Shawna Robinson scored off an error in the top of the sixth inning. Stacy Gemeinhardt added a run off a Kim Slover RBI single. Missouri's final run came in the seventh when Lindsey Jacoby scored off a Shawna Robin