April 5, 2002
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Mizzou Softball Returns to Big 12 Play This Weekend Against Baylor
After going 3-1 in a four-game stint outside the Big 12, the University of Missouri softball team dives back in to conference competition this weekend as it welcome No. 24 Baylor to University Field. The Tigers currently sport a 23-23 record and a 1-6 mark in the Big 12. Mizzou has won four of its last five contests after losing six straight from Mar. 23-30.
Looking at the Tiger's remaining 15 regular season contests, eight games will be at. Also, eight of their remaining 15 contests will be against opponents ranked in the latest NFCA/ USA Today Coaches poll.
Tiger Tid-Bits
The Tigers have won four of their last five contests... After sweeping two games from the Southeast Missouri Otahkians on Tuesday, Mizzou is now 15-7 on year at home and has outscored their opponents, 115-50...of the Tiger's 23 wins this season, four have been via the mercy rule...in the Tiger's sweep of SEMO, they out-hit the Otahkians, 24-9...Of the Tiger's 38 hits they have recorded over the past four games, 12 have been of the extra-base variety (six doubles, four triples and two home runs)...Mizzou has hit .369 as a team over the past five contests and has out-scored their opponents, 33-10.
The Baylor EditionGames 47-48 * April 6-7, 2002 * Columbia, Mo. University of Missouri (23-23 overall, 1-6 in the Big 12) Opponent: No. 24 Baylor (38-11 overall, 5-3 in the Big 12) Start Times: Sat., April 6 Missouri vs. No. 24 Baylor-7 pm Sun., April 7 Missouri vs. Baylor-1 pm Radio Info: All Tiger Softball softball games can be heard on 1580 KTGR AM or at www.mutigers.com Series Info: MU vs. Baylor-Missouri leads, 13-6 For More Info: MU-www.mutigers.com Baylor-www.gobaylorbears.com Coaches: Missouri: Jay Miller (Illinois State '78) 550-298 at MU (15th year) 703-404 overall (20th year). Baylor: Glenn Moore (Northwestern State '93) 76-33 at BU (2nd season) 215-75 overall (5th season)
A Look at the Lady Bears
The Lady Bears broke into the rankings this week for the first time in 2002 at No. 24. Baylor spent seven weeks in the Top 25 last season, reaching as high as a program-best No. 19. The Lady Bears currently sport an impressive 38-11 overall mark and a 5-3 record in the conference. Baylor has won four of its last seven and split a double header with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday night taking Game 1, 2-1 and dropping Game 2, 3-2.
BU is led offensively by Sarah Caudle, who weighs in with a .355 batting average, 10 doubles, four triples and has scored 23 runs. On the mound, both Cristin Vitek and Katie Decker have ERA's under 1.00 and all three of the Baylor pitchers have won at least nine contests.
Baylor is coached by Glenn Moore, who is in his second season. Mizzou holds a 13-6 advantage in the series against the Bears.
Last Season Against the Bears
In Waco, Texas April 28 Baylor 3, Missouri 1 April 29 Baylor 6, Missouri 0
Armed and Dangerous
One of the main reasons the Tigers have won four of their last five contests has been the outstanding pitching of freshman Erin Kalka. In her last 20 innings of work (four relief appearances, one start), Kalka has been masterful registering a 3-0 record while allowing only 10 hits (two for extra bases), no runs and has struck out 25.
The scariest thing about this is that probably her best performance came in the Tigers only loss in the last five games, a 5-4 setback to SLU last Tuesday. She entered the game in the top of the second in relief of starter Ingrid Werner with two outs. After allowing the first batter she faced to reach on a walk, Kalka would retire the next thirteen batters she faced striking out 10.
Blinding and Warp Five
When it comes to speed, junior Sara Vassmer has two gears. Blinding and Warp 5. Vassmer leads the Tigers in stolen bases with 16 thefts on 24 attempts. As a leadoff slap hitter for the Tigers this season, she is second on the team in hits (46) and on-base percentage (.396) and leads the squad in at bats.
Vassmer had a solid week two weeks ago recording six hits on 14 at bats good for a .429 batting average. She led the squad with three runs scored and added to her team high 15 stolen bases with two swipes on the week. She was perfect in the field recording a 1.000 fielding percentage and made a great play in the Tigers win over Kansas throwing out the potential tying run at home plate to preserve a 2-1 victory for the Tigers.
She continued that solid play this week against St. Louis and Southeast Missouri State. She has recorded a hit in eight of the Tigers last 10 games
What Does It Take to Be #1?
Although sophomore Rachael McGinnis has had some struggles early in the Big 12 season, she still is one of the most prolific offensive performers in conference. McGinnis leads the Big 12 in batting average (.427), hits (56), total bases (92) and on base percentage (.503). She ranks in the top 10 in eight of the offensive catergories that were calculated.
Who's En Fuego
* Senior Heather Allister is hitting a team-best .353 in Big 12 action with seven total bases and a .412 slugging percentage.
* Junior Sara Vassmer has recorded hits in seven of the Tigers last nine games.
* Freshman Heather Kunkel has recorded a hit in six straight contests heading into the weekend
* Junior Melanie Fisher is currently riding a six-game hitting streak and went 6-for-11 scoring three runs and driving in four in four games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
* Senior Lindsay Jacoby owns a two-game hit streak.
* Sophomore Morgan LeCluyse owns a three-game hit streak.
Good Starts...Tough Endings
The Tigers have jumped all over their opponents this season in the early innings of games. However, in mid and late innings of games, their offensive production has diminished immensely. Below is a inning by inning break down of the Tigers scoring so far in 2002.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tigers 41 26 31 34 23 12 11 Opponents 21 11 14 28 29 34 2
Last Time Out...
Tiger Softball Pummels Otahkians, 10-2 and 12-0
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri softball team took out some offensive frustration it had experienced of late on Wednesday taking two games from Southeast Missouri State 10-2 in five innings and 12-0 in five innings. Mizzou out-hit the Otahkians 24-9 in the two games and improves to 23-23 overall and remains at 1-6 in the Big 12 while the Otahkians fall to 5-16 overall and 2-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Tigers would jump all over the Otahkians staking to a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the third. After allowing only two hits in the first two innings, starter Veronica Flournoy ran into trouble in the third giving up four straight SEMO hits and two earned runs pulling to within one at 3-2. Kalka would enter the game in relief of Flournoy and proved to be nearly untouchable giving up only two hits while striking out five, giving up no runs, picking up her ninth win of the season. The Tigers would provide plenty of offense behind Kalka scoring six runs in the bottom of the third and a run in the bottom of the fifth to induce the mercy rule and take the game 10-2. The top five hitters of the Tiger line-up (Sara Vassmer, Morgan LeCluyse, Rachael McGinnis, Melanie Fisher and Heather Kunkel) were sensational, going a collective 10-for-15 with seven RBIs while scoring six of the Tigers 10 runs. LeCluyse and McGinnis led the charge going 2-for-2 and 2-for-3 with two RBI's each.
After evening her overall record at 9-9 in the first game of the day pitching only 3.0 innings, Kalka would take the ball once again starting game two. She was masterful working 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing only three Otahkian hits while striking out seven improving her record to 10-9 on the year. Kalka had plenty of run support as the Tigers rallied for three two-out runs in the first inning, two runs in the second, six runs in the third and a run in the fourth to take the game 12-0 in five innings. Mizzou did a nice job of producing runs and received contribution from its entire line up with nine different Tigers adding to the hit total of 13. LeCluyse continued her big day going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored while recording her eighth double of the season. Fisher and senior Erin Erickson also had good nights at the plate going 2-for-3 while freshman Heather Kunkel went 1-for-2 extending a career-best six game hit streak.