Feb. 12, 2001

Phoenix, Ariz. - The University of Missouri softball team began its 2001 season with a 2-4 campaign at the Fiesta Bowl Classic Tournament in Arizona Feb. 9-11.

The first game Friday saw the Tigers face Massachusetts, where Mizzou downed the Minutewomen 5-1. Senior Karen Williams was 3-4 at the plate, and freshman Rachael McGinnis and junior Heather Allister both hit 2-4 against UMASS. In addition, McGinnis, Allister, junior Erin Erickson and sophomore Melanie Fisher all hit for extra bases. Senior pitcher Stephanie Falk pitched a complete game, facing 32 batters while only allowing one run and one walk.

After the win, the Tigers faced Utah State. After scoring a run in the first inning, the Tigers held the lead until the bottom of the third, when the Aggies scored one to tie the game. The Aggies would go on to score five unanswered runs to win the game 6-1. Sophomore Ingrid Werner pitched, striking out three and walking five.

Saturday would not get any easier as the Tigers dropped games to both UNLV and Wisconsin. Against the Runnin' Rebels, Williams hit a perfect 4-4. Junior Lindsey Jacoby was 3-4 with an RBI. The Tigers struggled on the mound, using all three pitchers (Werner, Erickson, and Falk) to get through the game. Despite the loss, the Tigers outhit the Rebs 13-8.

The Tigers finished Saturday play with an 8-3 loss to Wisconsin. Again, the Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, and after three innings Mizzou held on to a 3-1 lead. However, the Badgers went on to score three runs in the fifth and four more in the seventh to win the game. Williams and junior Sara Vassmer both hit 2-3 and Fisher hit 2-4 with an RBI.

The first game Sunday saw more positive results as the Tigers defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 3-1. The Tigers notched seven hits, two of which came from McGinnis. Falk was the winning pitcher, allowing only four hits in seven innings of work.

The Tigers finished the tournament against the third-ranked Arizona Wildcats, where the Tigers fell 8-0 in five innings.

Although not all the games went Missouri's way, Coach Miller said there were positive things about the weekend.

"I would have liked to see us start the season stronger, but I saw some good things in Arizona," said Miller. "Karen Williams had a great weekend. She was 13-20 at the plate and played solid defense. Rachael McGinnis also played well all weekend. We played better defense on Sunday, and that's a good sign. The players are starting to grow up and mature, and we need to continue to do that throughout the season."

The Tigers come home this Saturday and Sunday to host the Mizzou Round Robin, where they will face DePaul, Western Illinois, and Northern Illinois.