April 10, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo.-- - The Mizzou softball team swept a doubleheader against Iowa State on Thursday to move into a tie with Texas for first place in the Big 12 Conference. The Tigers downed the Cyclones 1-0 and 4-0 to extend their win streak to six games. They have not allowed a run in the last 37 innings, dating back to their win over Texas A&M on March 30.
Erin Kalka, last week's Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, threw 15 innings of shutout ball on Thursday as she recorded her eighth and ninth shutouts of the year, improving her record to 14-7. She struck out four and gave up just three hits in the opening game before pitching a one hitter in game two, striking out seven in the nightcap.
The Tigers picked up its fourth extra inning win of the season with a 1-0 win in eight innings in the opener. After a scoreless seven innings, MU scored the game's only run as Sara Vassmer crossed the plate on a play in which Iowa State committed two errors.
Vassmer was 2-for-4, scoring the winning run for Mizzou. Heather Kunkel also had two hits for MU, while Jeni Schellert and Daisy Mettlach each recorded a hit.
The Tigers got the bats going earlier in game two, scoring three runs in their first at-bat. Joanne Loethen was hit by a pitch to start the inning and two batters later, Heather Kunkel reached on a fielders' choice. Rachael McGinnis then drove in both Loethen and Kunkel on a triple to right center. McGinnis was then driven in on a Daisy Mettlach single.
Missouri's final run came off the bat of McGinnis, when she connected for a solo home run in the sixth inning. The homer was the ninth of the year for McGinnis whose home run and triple drove in three runs for MU in the nightcap.
Mizzou now stands 24-13 on the year and 7-2 in the Big 12 Conference, placing it in a tie with Texas for the league lead. MU would hold the tiebreaker over Texas as it won the only meeting between the two this season.
The Tigers are on the road in Stillwater, Okla. this weekend for a two-game series against Oklahoma State. MU and OSU will face off at 2 p.m. on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Mizzou will return home next Tuesday for a doubleheader against UMKC starting at 5 p.m.