Feb. 7, 2003
MU vs. Mercer Box Score
MU vs. UTC Box Score
AUBURN, Ala.-- - New Missouri softball coach Ty Singleton began his first season with the Tigers with two victories on Friday. Mizzou opened up the 2003 season by winning its first two games at the Auburn Invitational in Auburn, Ala. The Tigers defeated Mercer 4-2 in eight innings in the tournament opener and followed that with a 7-0 win over Chattanooga.
Missouri jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game one, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Mercer tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. The two teams remained tied until the eighth inning.
In MU's half of the eighth, Jeni Schellert, who was placed on second base due to international tiebreaker rules, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Kristen Burke. After a Joanne Loethen walk, Heather Kunkel tripled to center, scoring both Schellert and Loethen. Mercer was unable to score in the bottom of the eighth, giving Missouri the win.
Samantha Fleeman picked up the win in her first start with Mizzou. Fleeman went seven innings, giving up four hits and one earned run and striking out eight. Erin Kalka came in to pitch the eighth and record the save.
Kunkel was 1-for-4 with the two RBI. Fleeman, Rachael McGinnis and Daisy Mettlach each recorded two hits for the Tigers, with Fleeman and McGinnis each picking up an RBI.
Against Chattanooga, MU put two runs on the board before UTC could record an out in the first inning. The Tigers then added three runs in the second and cruised to a 7-0 win.
Kalka recorded her first win of the year, giving up only two hits in the complete game shutout. She struck out eight and walked three.
McGinnis and Morgan LeCluyse each were 2-for-3 in the game. McGinnis' hits were each extra base hits (a triple and a double) off the outfield wall.
Four Tiger freshman saw their first collegiate playing time on Friday. Fleeman went seven innings and recorded the win in the opening game. Fleeman's battery mate was freshman Morgan Kent, who had her first start behind the plate. Loethen started each game at first base, finishing 2-for-3 against Mercer and 1-for-2 against UTC. Kendra Power was at second base against Chattanooga, recording one hit, one run and one RBI for the Tigers.
Mizzou is 2-0 and next will face Auburn at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Live Stats for all of the tournament games are available at www.auburntigers.com.