University of Missouri
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Kansas
Tiger Softball Clips Jayhawks, 2-1
3/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 31, 2002
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri softball team ended a six-game skid on Sunday taking out vaunted rival Kansas 2-1 at University Field. The Tigers improve to 20-22 overall and 1-6 in the Big 12 while KU falls to 19-15 overall and 2-5 in the conference. The win gave head coach Jay Miller his 700th career victory and also his 550th win at Mizzou. Mizzou got timely hitting and solid pitching on Sunday and Miller said Mizzou hopes to use the win as a springboard for the rest of the regular season.
"We hit the ball well today which was a welcome sight but we left to many runners on base (10)," Miller said. "Erin (Kalka) and (Ingrid) did a good job today and continue to work hard for us. This week is a big week coming up for us with six games in five days and we need to keep the momentum going."
After a scoreless first inning, the Tigers would get on the board when senior Heather Allister recorded her team-best seventh double to center field scoring senior classmates Lindsey Jacoby and Mary McGrane to give Mizzou a 2-0 lead. Werner, who started the game for Mizzou, would continue to hold the Jayhawks at bay until the top of the fourth when she gave up a leadoff home run to KU third baseman Megan Urquart. After getting Melanie Wallach to ground out to third, Werner would give up a double to Amy Hulse, which would spell the end of the afternoon for her. She worked 3 1/3 innings scattering four hits but did walk three.
Freshman Erin Kalka would enter the game and was outstanding in relief once again for the Tigers. She allowed only one hit and no runs in 3 2/3 innings of work while striking out one and took the win improving her record to 8-9 on the season.
The Tigers had several chances to extend their 2-1 lead leaving the bases loaded two times in the fifth and sixth inning while recording the most hits (9) since their Mar. 19, 9-0 win over UCONN. Allister led the offensive charge for Mizzou going 2-for-3 with two RBIs while McGrane and senior Erin Erickson also recorded two hits in the contest.
The Tigers face a busy week once again this week as they travel to St. Louis on Tuesday for a double-header with the Billikens set to start at 5 pm. The Tigers will then return home for a double-header on Wednesday against SEMO that will start at 4 pm at University Field before welcoming Baylor to Columbia for a Saturday-Sunday set. For more information on Missouri softball, log on to www.mutigers.com.
