March 16, 2002
Columbia, Mo. - It may have been cold at University Field on Saturday afternoon, but sophomore transfer Morgan LeCluyse was red hot. LeCluyse went 3-5 with two home runs and five RBI in the University of Missouri Softball team's wins over Connecticut, 6-4 and Iowa State, 2-0 in Day 2 of the Missouri Invitational. The Tigers have now won seven straight games and are now 16-16 on the season. The seven game win streak is the longest since a 10-gamer Mizzou strung together last season from Mar. 10th through the 18th of March.
"We fought well today against both our opponents and against the elements," head coach Jay Miller said. "When it's cold like it was today, you need to focus and concentrate at the task at hand and I think our team showed some real toughness and determination today."
Mizzou got off to a slow start in the first game of the day against Iowa State. The Cyclones raced to a 2-0 lead after the first inning and a 4-2 lead through the third. The Tigers would put together a major rally in the top of the fourth. Senior Mary McGrane would start the rally with a walk that was then followed by a single by senior Lindsay Jacoby. Senior Heather Allister then singled to left field to load the bases for LeCluyse, who transferred to Mizzou from Iowa State after last season.
LeCluyse crushed a shot to left field off of the University Field scoreboard (her second scoreboard shot of the week) for a grand slam putting the Tigers up for good, 6-4. The home run was her third of the season. Freshman Erin Kalka earned the win working 4.2 innings of relief allowing only three hits and one run while striking out three.
The Tigers then quickly turned around to play Connecticut for the second time in a little more than 24 hours. With temperatures hovering in the low 30's and a swirling wind, both squads opened the game with cool bats playing to a scoreless tie after three innings. However, LeCluyse would change that leading off the bottom of the fourth inning with another blast to left field, her second home run of the day and fourth of the year, putting the Tigers ahead, 1-0. LeCluyse would also figure in the Tigers insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when she scored on a fielder's choice hit by sophomore Rachael McGinnis to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Kalka and junior Ingrid Werner would combine for the four-hit shut out of the Huskies with Werner (8-5) getting the win and Kalka getting her second save of the season. Mizzou is now 3-0 in 2002 against the Huskies.
Mizzou hosts the third and final day of the Invitational tomorrow with games set to start at 10 am at University Field. The Tigers will take on Loyola at 2 pm and then face Iowa State at 4 pm. For ticket information on MU Softball, log on to www.mutigers.com.