March 10, 2002
Columbia, Mo.-The University of Missouri softball team took out the offensive frustrations it had been experiencing as of late springing for 14 hits and 10 runs in Mizzzou's 10-2 five-inning win over the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday in its final game of the Missouri Classic. The Tigers finish the tournament with a 3-3 record taking second place behind tournament champion Louisville.
Prior to the outburst against the Bulldogs, Mizzou had not registered double digits in hits in seven games and had not scored more than seven runs in 19 contests.
"It was great to see us hit the ball the way we did against Drake," Head coach Jay Miller said. "We have been very inconsistent at the plate and we need to build on this as we head into our games with Evansville this week."
Five Tigers recorded two or more hits in the win. Senior Lindsey Jacoby and sophomore Rachael McGinnis both went 3-for 3 while senior Erin Erickson went 2-for-2 with two doubles. Jacoby had a rare feat in the contest as she hit her third and fourth triples of the year and sprang for a season-best four RBIs. Junior Ingrid Werner earned her fifth win of the season evening her record at 5-5. Werner worked 5.0 innings giving up two earned runs and four hits while striking out two.
Earlier in the day, Mizzou dropped a heartbreaker to Louisville, 3-2 in eight innings. The Tigers were down 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh but would score the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Morgan LeCluyse to center field that scored senior Heather Allister, who had recorded a single earlier in the inning. With the game tied a two, the international tie breaker (the batter that recorded the final out of the previous inning is placed on second to begin the inning) was put into play. Louisville capitalized immediately as the first batter of the inning singled to center field off of Werner, who entered the game in relief of freshman Erin Kalka in the eighth, which score the go ahead and ultimately winning run. The Tigers were turned away in the bottom the inning despite having the bases load with only one out.
The Tigers are now 10-16 on the year and travel to Evansville on Thursday for a double-header with the Purple Aces. Mizzou then returns home to host its final regular season tournament of the season Fri., Mar. 15-Sun. 17 (the Missouri Invitational). For more information on Missouri softball, log on to www.mutigers.com.