Missouri
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Kansas
Bats Come Alive as Missouri Sweeps Kansas
4/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2003
LAWRENCE, Kan.-- - The Mizzou softball team continued to stay in the race for the Big 12 Championship, as it swept Kansas in a doubleheader on Monday in Lawrence, Kan. The Tigers (30-15, 11-4 Big 12) tie a season high, with six straight wins as it took 8-4 and 13-1 victories over the Jayhawks.
Game one of Monday's doubleheader was a makeup game from the earlier postponed game that was to be played in Columbia. Therefore, Mizzou was the home team for the opener.
After Kansas put up two runs in the top of the first inning, the Tigers responded by scoring five in the bottom half of the inning. Joanne Loethen and Sara Vassmer lead off the first with back-to-back infield singles and both were driven in on a Jeni Schellert single. Rachael McGinnis, who was intentionally walked, scored on a wild pitch. Daisy Mettlach then connected for a two-run home run, her fifth homer of the season.
Mizzou put three more runs up in the second, as Kendra Power, Loethen, Vassmer each reached to start the inning and each scored with help of a Jayhawk error, wild pitch and a walk.
Kansas (23-20, 2-13) scored another two runs in the top of the third, but after that, Tiger starter Erin Kalka took control, facing only one over the minimum for the final four innings. Kalka finished game one with a six-hit complete game, striking out three and walking two.
In the nightcap, Kalka (18-9) picked up where she left off in game one, recording a one-hitter, striking out five in her 21st complete game of the year.
As is did in game one, Mizzou put up a five spot in the first inning, with the biggest hit coming off the bat of Heather Kunkel, whose two-run home run was her fifth of the season.
KU's only run and only hit came in the third when Nettie Fierros hit her fifth home run of the season, and only the ninth home run that Kalka has given up on the year.
Mizzou held a 5-1 lead until it scored runs in each of the last three innings, capped off by a five-run seventh inning.
The Tigers had 16 hits in the second game led by Sara Vassmer who was 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Kunkel had a triple to go along with her home runs and finished with four RBI. Loethen, McGinnis, Power, Kristen Burke and Ashley Hays all recorded two-hits in game two.
The 11-4 conference mark is an impressive turnaround from last year's 4-14 conference record. Missouri will look to continue its conference play as it closes out the regular season this weekend against Nebraska. The Tigers and Huskers will take the field at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
