April 9, 2000
The Missouri softball team was due for a big win, especially a big conference win over a ranked opponent. They got what was due them Sunday afternoon at University Field with a 8-0, five-inning win over the No. 20 Oklahoma State Cowgirls.
Missouri began their scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Linda Swarts led off with a double to left field. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bun by Christy Skouby. Mary McGrane walked and Swarts scored on a wild pitch, giving the Tigers the 1-0 lead. Scoring continued in the third. Stacy Gemeinhardt was the first Tiger runner on base. She reached on a walk. Erin Erickson followed with a single to center field. Erickson and Gemeinhardt advanced to second and third on a double steal. Linda Swarts was safe at first on a fielder's choice, while Gemeinhardt was thrown out at home. Skouby hit a RBI single into right field to score Erickson and give Missouri the 2-0 lead.
Oklahoma State had runners on second and third with only one out in the top of the fourth, but Missouri pitcher Ingrid Werner stayed poised and worked her way out of the inning without allowing a run. She made sure the runners were going to stay put before she threw Ryan Realmuto out at first for the second out of the inning. Then she struck out Paula Garman for the third out.
The Tigers scored three runs in each the fourth and fifth innings. Amy Farmer led off the fourth inning with a double to left center field. Christy Caccavo came in to pinch run for Farmer. Karen Williams followed up with a single. Caccavo advanced to second and then took third when the Cowgirl third baseman, Jenny Kipp, dropped the ball as she tried to tag Caccavo. Kristen Burke came in to pinch hit for Sara Vassmer. Burke came up big in her second conference at bat with a triple deep into right field. Caccavo and Williams scored. Vassmer reentered the game to run for Burke. She scored on a Lindsey Jacoby single to right field. The next three Tiger batters were out and ended the inning with a 5-0 Tiger lead.
Oklahoma State head coach Sandy Fischer decided it was time for a change in the top of the fifth. She changed the whole lineup, except for three positions. The strategy didn't work, as the Cowgirls were only able to get one runner on base, due to a walk, and the Tigers scored the final three runs needed to end the game in the bottom of the inning. Skouby led off with a single to center field. Farmer reached base on an error by the new second baseman, Wendy Vaught. Farmer and Skouby both advanced on a wild pitch by new pitcher, Annie Gunderson. Williams walked. Vassmer followed with a RBI-single to center field. Farmer added a run on a Jacoby RBI-single to left field. With the bases loaded and two outs, Erickson was hit by a Gunderson pitch to score the winning run.
Oklahoma State's starting pitcher, Karla Rivera, was credited with the loss. Missouri's Ingrid Werner got the win. She tied her career-high for strikeouts in a game with seven. She also recorded her fifth shutout of the season.
The Tigers have a busy week ahead. Tuesday they travel to Lawrence to take on the Jayhawks at 5 p.m. Wednesday they return home to play a double header against Big 12 Conference leader Oklahoma at 3 and 5 p.m. Friday morning they leave to go to College Station, Texas to face the Texas A&M Aggies. Games will be