Tigers Face OSU and KU in Busy Easter Weekend
3/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 28, 2002
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Tigers Face OSU and KU in Busy Easter Weekend
There is nothing better than a little home cookin' during the Easter weekend. The University of Missouri softball team (19-20, 0-4 in the Big 12) will return to the friendly confines of University Field for some 'home cookin' this weekend as they welcome the Cowgirls of Oklahoma State on Friday and Saturday before hosting a Easter showdown with vaunted rival Kansas.
The Tigers can make some major moves this weekend and in upcoming week in the standings playing nine games in nine days between Friday and Sun., Apr. 7. Despite losing their last four games, Mizzou has still won 11 of its last 15 contest.
The Motley Crue Factor Revisited
For those of you who had the displeasure of sorting through my useless drivel during the volleyball season last fall, you are well aware of the meaning of the Motley Crue factor. The Crue had a smash hit in 1988 with the song "Home Sweet Home." (It reached No. 5 in '88 and was played at every junior high dance I ever attended).
I know that a majority of the Tigers are fans of Vince Neil and the boys and they are also fans of the fact that nine of their next 11 games are at University Field, where the Tigers are 12-5 in 2002. As a matter of fact, 13 of Mizzou's final 22 regular season games will be played in Columbia.
The Oklahoma State-Kansas Edition Games 40-42 * Mar. 29-31, 2002 * Columbia, Mo. University of Missouri (19-20 overall, 0-4 in the Big 12) Opponent: Oklahoma State (20-11 overall, 1-3 in the Big 12) Kansas (19-12 overall, 2-2 in the Big 12) Start Times: Fri., Mar. 29 Missouri vs. Oklahoma State, 6 pm Sat., Mar. 30 Missouri vs. Oklahoma State, 1 pm Sun., Mar. 31 Missouri vs. Kansas, 3 pm Radio Info: All Tiger Softball softball games can be heard on 1580 KTGR or at www.mutigers.com Series Info: MU vs. OSU-OSU leads, 49-21 MU vs. KU-MU leads, 44-37 For More Info: MU-www.mutigers.com OSU-www.okstate.com KU-www.kuathletics.com Coaches: Missouri: Jay Miller (Illinois State '78) 549-295 at MU (15th year) 699-401 overall (20th year). Oklahoma St.: Magaret Rebenar (Cal Poly-Pomona, '80) 20-11 at OSU (1st year) 332-165 overall (23rd year) Kansas: Tracy Bunge (Kansas '86) 146-211 at Kansas (5th year) 594-406-1 overall (19th year)
A Look at the Cowgirls
OSU enters the two-day series with a 20-11 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the Big 12. The Cowgirls had won eight of their last ten contest heading into Big 12 play two weeks ago, but split with Kansas in Lawrence and dropped two games to Nebraska in Stillwater last weekend.
The Cowgirls feature a very balanced line up with four players with 60 or more at bats hitting better than .290 on the season. Sophomore outfielder Jade Lindly and junior catcher Ryan Realmuto bring a ton of offensive fire power to the OSU line up combining for 17 home runs (10 for Lindly and seven for Realmuto). The Tigers have 17 total home runs as a team, compared to 35 for OSU.
Coached by first-year head coach Magaret Rebenar, OSU leads the all-time series with Mizzou, 49-21. They are currently receiving 17 votes in the latest USA Today/ NFCA Coaches Poll released last Wednesday.
A Look at the Jayhawks
KU is off to a solid start under fifth year head coach Tracy Bunge at 19-12. They have won 15 of their last 20 contests including series splits with both Oklahoma State to open Big 12 play at 2-2. The Jayhawks picked up a sweep of SEC foe Arkansas on Wednesday in Fayettville, 2-1 and 3-0.
Christi Muser, who earned Big 12 player of the week honors for the week of February 12, is by far the Jayhawks biggest offensive threat registering a .418 batting average with five doubles, two triples, five homeruns and 62 total bases. KU has also got some great outings from its pitching staff. Three of the Jayhawks starters check in to Sunday's contest with ERAs under two. Missouri leads the all-time series with the KU, 44-37.
A Minute With Morgan
Sophomore transfer Morgan LeCluyse continues to be one of the Tigers offensive spark plugs this season. Mo has recorded a career-best five home runs, four of which have come over the past 16 games. She has not only provided power for Mizzou. LeCluyse has hit .333 over the past 10 games raising her batting average to .260.
Morgan, who came to Mizzou from Iowa State after her freshman season, returned to Ames for the first time on Wednesday. She went 2-for-5 with her fifth and sixth doubles of the season against her former mates. LeCluyse has experienced some success against her former mates in 2002. With the Tigers trailing the Cyclones 4-2 in their first match up in the Missouri Invitational two weeks ago, 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 Leader of the Pack
Sophomore third baseman Rachael McGinnis continues to dominate opposing pitchers this season. In the statistical report released by the Big 12 on Monday, McGinnis led the Big 12 in four offensive categories including batting average (.447), hits (51), total bases (83) and on base percentage (.519). McGinnis ranks in the top 10 in 10 of the 12 catergories tabulated in the report.
McGinnis's second inning home run in the Tiger's Sunday contest with Texas 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.
Last Time Out...
Tigers Drop Double Header to Cyclones in Ames
Ames, Iowa - The University of Missouri softball team dropped two games to Iowa State on Wednesday in Ames, Iowa, 10-2 and 4-1. Mizzou fell victim to quality ISU pitching and a 35 mph north wind giving up three Cyclone home runs as it dropped its third and fourth consecutive contests.
The Tigers fell victim to two big innings in Game 1. After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first and cruising through the first three batters of the ISU line up, the Tigers allowed Iowa State to score six runs on four hits and one error in the bottom of the second. Mizzou would begin to make a comeback scoring a run in the fourth when senior Mary McGrane singled in freshman Heather Kunkel and in the fifth when junior Sara Vassmer scored on a passed ball making the score 6-2.
The floodgates would open once again open in the sixth when the Cyclones would spring for three unearned runs to take a 9-2 lead. ISU would tack on one more run in the bottom of the sixth to take the game 10-2 due to the mercy rule. Freshman Erin Kalka, who was struggling with flu-like symptoms through out the game, took the loss as she started the game giving up four runs in 1.0 innings of work falling to 7-8 on the season. ISU starter Erica Martinez was excellent allowing only five hits in the complete-game 6.0 inning effort.
The Cyclones would once again jump out to an early lead in Game 2 scoring a run on three hits off of starter Ingrid Werner. Mizzou would respond with a run in the third when sophomore Rachael McGinnis drove in her team-leading 33rd RBI scoring Sara Vassmer tying the game at one after three innings. However, Iowa State would once again answer with a big inning scoring three runs in the fourth on four hits to take a 4-1 lead that Cyclone starter Jen Bice would not relinquish retiring the final 14 Tigers she faced to take the win. Werner took the loss for Mizzou falling to 8-6 on the year.
Sophomore Morgan LeCluyse was one of the few Tigers to have a good offensive day going 2-for-5 with her fifth and sixth doubles of the year. After going 0-for-3 in Game 1 of the day, McGinnis rebounded in a big way going 2-for-3 driving in the Tigers lone run in Game 2.
Streaking Tigers, Hidden Dragon
Not sure what the hidden dragon part of that headline means, but the streaking-Tiger segment is very applicable. Here is a look at some of the rolls the Tigers are currently on.
*Freshman Heather Kunkel has recorded a hit in four of the Tigers last five contests.
*After going 2-for-5 with two doubles against Iowa State on Wednesday, sophomore Morgan LeCluyse is currently in the midst of a three-game hit streak
*After recording a thirteen game hitting streak earlier in the year, Rachael McGinnis has started a new mini-streak recording hits in four of the Tigers last five games.
*Junior Sara Vassmer started a new hit streak on Wednesday going 3-for-6 and now has a two-game hit streak in tact.
Last Season Against the Cowgirls and Jayhawks
In Stillwater
April 7-OSU 4, MU 0
April 8-MU 4, OSU 0
In Lawrence
April 19-KU 6, MU 1
In Columbia
May 6-MU 4, KU 3
Miller Looks To Join the 700 Club
Head coach Jay Miller is the all-time winningest coach in MU softball history with 549 career wins. Coach Miller was honored last season for his 500th win at Mizzou on Feb. 18 when the Tigers grabbed a 2-1 win over Northern Illinois. Miller now has a very good shot to pass yet another milestone this season. With just one more win, he will have registered the 700th win of his 20-year career. Coincidentally, when Miller does earn his 700th, it will also be his 550th win at Mizzou.
