March 18, 2001
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri Tiger softball team (17-14) finished their first undefeated tournament weekend Sunday, defeating Pittsburgh and Indiana back to back to win the Missouri Invitational.
In the first game, the Tigers started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when junior Lindsey Jacoby hit a double to left center that bounced around, scoring senior Karen Williams from second base. Two batters later, sophomore Melanie Fisher drove in Jacoby on a single that dropped just over the second baseman's head. The Tigers would notch two more in the first when junior Erin Erickson hit a double that bounced off the bottom of the fence, scoring Fisher and freshman Rachael McGinnis.
After no action in the second, Mizzou scored two in the third off a two RBI single by pitcher Stephanie Falk. The Tigers continued the scoring drive in the fourth, scoring another two runs. The first came off a McGinnis triple to centerfield, and Fisher would drive in McGinnis on a double to center the next play. Those runs would be enough to put away the Panthers with the eight-run mercy rule in the fifth inning. Falk pitched, allowing just three hits and one walk and striking out two.
In the second game Sunday, the Tigers faced Indiana, who in the top of the first inning scored one run off a single and a Tiger error. The Tigers were able to get out of the inning without any more Hoosier runs, and would answer in a big way in the third when sophomore pinch hitter Kristin Burke hit a single to right field that drove in freshman pinch runner Daisy Mettlach. Jacoby would then step to the plate and hit a single to the same place that would score Sara Vassmer. Two batters later, Fisher hit a long triple to center field that would score Jacoby from second and McGinnis from third, and the Tigers took the lead 4-1.
In the top of the fifth the Hoosiers scored one run off a single to left field by catcher Brooke Monroe, but with two out Tiger pitcher Stephanie Falk would enter the game to relieve Ingrid Werner and end the inning. The final two innings went uneventfully, and the Tigers took the 4-2 win.
The Tigers are back in action Monday against Indiana State at 1 p.m. The Tigers will finish a game with the Sycamores that was suspended last weekend because of darkness, and then play another against Indiana State.