Feb. 24, 2002
Columbus, Ga.-Today was the day that everything came together. The University of Missouri softball team used clutch hitting and outstanding pitching to grab wins over Connecticut and New Mexico in the final day of the NFCA Classic in Columbus, Ga. With the win, Mizzou laid claim to the consolation prize of the Bronze Bracket of the tournament finishing action in Georgia at 3-3. Coach Jay Miller said he hopes the Tigers success and offensive production they experienced in the final day of the Classic will carry over into the upcoming games.
"Hopefully these wins will create a snowball effect and we are able to build on this success." Miller said. "We played well today and got great pitching all weekend from our staff, which is encouraging."
Mizzou had an early beginning to their Sunday facing UCONN at 8 am EST. The Tigers would respond well to their induction into the Breakfast Club taking out the Huskies, 2-0. Junior Ingrid Werner and freshman Erin Kalka combined for a four-hit shutout in the Tigers fifth win of the season. Werner, who improved to 3-2 on the season, guided the Tigers through 4 2/3 innings giving up three hits and Kalka would come in and earn her first save of her career going 2 ? innings striking out four.
The Tigers offense came in the fourth inning as senior Heather Allister recorded one of her two hits in the game, a one out single to center. Allister would advance to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch before scoring on sophomore Rachael McGinnis' triple to right. McGinnis would go on to score later in the inning giving the Tigers the 2-0 lead and eventual win.
In the second game of the day, MU scored one run in four of the first five innings en route to a 4-0 win over the Lobos of New Mexico. Seven of the 10 Tigers that came to the plate recorded hits including junior Sara Vassmer and senior Erin Erickson, who recorded two hits a piece. Erin Kalka was excellent once again recording the complete game shutout scattering five hits while striking out four. Kalka and Tigers did make it interesting a couple of times during the game recording three errors and loading the bases in the second inning. However, the Tigers played sound defense in the clutch and squelched any comeback hopes of the Lobos.
The Tigers are now 6-8 on the year and will travel to Plant City, Fla., for the Strawberry Cup next weekend (3/1-3/3). For more information on Tiger Softball, log on to www.mutigers.com.