March 25, 2000
Missouri (24-11, 0-1) and Nebraska (19-15, 1-0) are bitter rivals in every sport, and softball is no different. Whenever the two schools meet, no matter the time or place, you can be assured it's going to be a close game. Today's Big 12 conference opener in Lincoln was no exception. This time the Tigers came up one short, as the Huskers won 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh.
Missouri took the early lead. IN the top of the third, Lindsey Jacoby lead off with a walk. Mary McGrane reached on a fielder's choice and Jacoby was safe at second. Both runners advanced on a Sara Vassmer sacrifice bunt. Stacy Gemeinhardt struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch. With the bases loaded, Christy Skouby hit a single to left field to score Lindsey Jacoby. Christy Caccavo, pinch running for Mary McGrane, tried to extend the lead, but the throw just beat her to the plate for the third out of the inning.
Nebraska tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Amanda Bucholz doubled to left field. Kim Ogee followed with a single to left field, scoring Ogee. Tiger pitcher Stephanie Falk struck out the next batter to end the inning with the score tied 1-1.
The Tigers pulled ahead again in the sixth. Linda Swarts, the second batter of the inning, hit a long ball over the center field fence to put the Tigers up 2-1. Nebraska brought in Jenny Voss to relieve Leigh Ann Walker. But the Tigers weren't done. They added one more as McGrane scored Erin Erickson on a RBI-single to left field.
Nebraska scored again in the bottom of the sixth. The leadoff batter, Amber Burgess, double to left center. Jamie Fuente followed with a RBI-single to right center, making the score 3-2. Jennifer Williams singled to center field. Lori Tschannen advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. With runners on second and third, Missouri head coach Jay Miller sent Ingrid Werner in to relieve Falk. The Tiger defense took care of business, leaving two Husker runners stranded.
The Tigers couldn't muster a hit in the top of the seventh to secure their lead. Nebraska took advantage of that in the bottom of the inning. The first three Husker batters got on base. Burgess, the fourth batter of the inning, reached on a fielder's choice, but the Tiger's made the defensive play at home, throwing out the tying run. But the bases were still loaded, and the next batter, Fuente, reached on the fielder's choice and this time the defense was just a second too late. Ogee scored to tie the game at 3-3. The Huskers won the game on a Williams RBI-single.
Neither starting pitcher was the pitcher of record. Werner took the loss for the Tigers, moving her record to 10-5. Voss picked up the win for the Huskers. Her record is now 7-6.
The teams will meet again tomorrow, same time, same place, but, hopefully for the Tigers, with a different outcome.