April 18, 2003
WACO, Texas.-- - Erin Kalka recorded her 10th complete game of the season as the Mizzou softball team defeated Baylor 5-2 in Waco, Texas on Friday. Four different Tigers had two hits in the game to help MU pick up its 27th win of the season.
Missouri got on the board quickly, scoring a run in the top of the first inning as Rachael McGinnis doubled to drive in Heather Kunkel, giving Tiger starter Erin Kalka a 1-0 lead when she took to the circle.
Baylor took the lead for a short time, as it scored two runs in the second inning. The lead did not last long, as McGinnis picked up her second and third RBI of the day in the third inning with another double, driving in Joanne Loethen and Heather Kunkel.
MU added a run in the top of the fourth as Daisy Mettlach led off the inning with at double. She advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on a double steal. Another insurance run crossed the plate for Mizzou in the fifth as Ashley Hays scored on a base hit by Kendra Power to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead.
Kalka recorded her seventh win against a conference team and at one time retired 10 straight Baylor batters. She finished with three strikeouts and allowed seven hits.
Loethen, Kunkel, McGinnis and Mettlach each had two hits for Mizzou. Power and Sara Vassmer also had hits against Baylor. The Tigers also had success on the bases, stealing four bases off the Bears. Mettlach and Hays each had a stolen base, while Power had two.
Missouri is now 27-15 on the season and 8-4 in the Big 12 Conference. Nebraska and Texas A&M are also 8-4 in conference play and tied with the Tigers for third in the league standings. Oklahoma State is 8-3, while Texas leads with a 10-2 record.
MU and BU will finish the two-game series at noon on Saturday.