April 5, 2000
There was a strong wind blowing in from center field, but the Missouri softball team wasn't about to let that affect their game or stop them for beating their Big 12 nemesis, the Kansas Jayhawks. The Tiger batters gave the Jayhawk defense and pitcher Sarah Clopton a beating in the 3-0 shutout victory.
The Tigers tallied three runs off nine hits and two Kansas errors. Senior catcher Amy Farmer had two of Missouri's three RBI. Farmer and of her teammates, Stacy Gemeinhardt and Erin Erickson, went 3-2 on the day. Kansas got four hits, one in the first inning, one in the fifth and two in the seventh, but never got a player past second base.
The Tigers' scored their first run in the second inning. With two outs, Lindsey Jacoby walked and then stole second. Amy Farmer drove a single to right field to score Jacoby. Missouri's hitting continued in the third. Sara Vassmer led off with a single to left field. She advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later Gemeinhardt drove a ball to nearly the same spot where Vassmer's hit landed. Gemeinhardt advanced to second on the throw to third and Vassmer was safe at third. Erin Erickson ripped a shot to left field to score Vassmer. The next two Missouri batters were out, leaving runners at the corners
Missouri scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth. Mary McGrane singled to left field, then was replaced on first by Dara Throneburg. Lindsey Jacoby reached first on a fielder's choice, but Throneburg was safe at second and reached third on an error by the Jayhawk third baseman. Farmer singled to left field for her second hit and second RBI of the game. Melanie DeWinter came in after Throneburg scored to replace starter Sarah Clopton on the mound. She did her job, as the Tiger's did not get another hit.
Clopton was credited with the loss for the Jayhawks. In five innings she gave up nine hits, and two earned runs. She walked one Tiger batter. Stephanie Falk got the win for Missouri. In seven innings she gave up only four hits, walked one batter and struck out nine.
Stacy Gemeinhardt's second hit of the day gave her 213 career hits. That puts her one hit over Kris Schmidt and second on Missouri's all-time hits list. Mary Babb is first with 262.
Missouri will face Oklahoma State in a two-game series this weekend at University Field. Games will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.