March 24, 2002
Austin, Texas - Sophomore Rachael McGinnis hit her sixth home run of the season on Sunday and the Tigers out hit the University of Texas, 8-6, but it wasn't quite enough as the Longhorns took the contest, 5-4 and the weekend series with the Tigers, 2-0.
Missouri led off the scoring by pushing two runs across the plate in the top of the second inning. The Longhorns quickly answered in the bottom of the third with two runs of their own. Freshman Cat Osterman would render the Tiger bats silent over the next three innings while the Longhorns sprung for two runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth off of Missouri starter Erin Kalka (6.0 inn. 6 hits, 5 ER, 2 SO) to take a 5-2 lead heading into the seventh.
The Tigers rallied in the top of the seventh as they added two runs off three hits, cutting the lead to 5-4. The Tigers had a chance to tie or take the lead, but McGinnis ended the game as freshman pitcher Amy Bradford got her to ground out to third base with the bases loaded to earn the nail-biting save.
McGinnis's second inning home run was her sixth of the season and eighth of her career. She is now tied with Karen Persinger and Lisa Burke in sixth place for the most home runs hit by a Tiger in a single season in school history. Her eight career home runs moves her into the top 10 in career home runs as well tying her for 10th with Julie Link.
Seven Tigers recorded hits in the contest including senior Heather Allister, who went 2-for-3 and senior Lindsey Jacoby, who went 1-for-2 with an RBI while scoring a run and drawing a walk. After winning 10 straight games heading into the weekend series with the Longhorns, the Tigers have lost two straight and are now 19-18 on the season and 0-2 in the Big 12. The Tigers do have a good chance at begin another winning streak this week traveling to Ames, Iowa on Wednesday to take on the Iowa State Cyclones in a double header. Mizzou is 2-0 against the Cyclones in 2002 sweeping two games from them en route to the championship of the Missouri Invitational two weeks ago. For more information on Missouri softball, log on to www.mutigers.com.