Missouri
Nebraska
Mizzou Eliminated From Big 12 Tournament
5/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 2, 2003
Box Scores: MU vs. Nebraska | MU vs. Baylor
Photo Galleries: MU vs. Nebraska | MU vs. Baylor
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.-- - Missouri, the three-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, had its high hopes dashed on Friday, as it lost two games in day two of the tournament, eliminating it from play. The Tigers fell to Baylor 5-4 in 11 innings after losing to Nebraska, 5-0, in the tournament opener.
A week after Missouri split a two-game series with Nebraska, the two teams faced off again on Friday at the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Cornhuskers took the victory behind the strong pitching of Peaches James.
Both team's pitchers were in control of the first game, as James and MU's Erin Kalka each held the offenses in check for the early going. The first hit of the game for either team did not come until the top of the fifth inning, but it was a big hit. Sheena Lawrick hit a solo home run deep over the right field wall to put the first hit and first run of the game on the board.
The Huskers added to the lead in that inning when Nicole Trimboli's two-out triple drove in two more runs, giving NU a 3-0 lead.
Nebraska added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, as Amanda Buchholz hit a two-run home run off Samantha Fleeman to make it a 5-0 Husker lead.
The Tigers had trouble mounting any offense, connecting for only two hits off James, both coming in the bottom of the fifth inning as Rachael McGinnis and Daisy Mettlach each singled, but neither was able to cross the plate and the Huskers sent Mizzou to the losers' portion of the tournament bracket.
Baylor jumped out to a early lead over Mizzou in the Tigers' second game of the day, as it scored a run in the third inning, then added three more in the fifth inning with a home run off the bat of Sara Caudle.
MU scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the fifth inning when Heather Kunkel, who doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored on a Rachael McGinnis sacrifice fly.
Just two outs away from elimination, the Tigers staged a late rally to extend the game to extra innings.
Kendra Power came through with Mizzou's biggest hit of the day, a one-out double which scored Kristen Burke and pinch runner Morgan LeCluyse. Power then scored the tying run on a Sara Vassmer single, keeping MU's alive.
The Tigers tried to get something going in extra innings, twice having runners on second. But both times they were unable to plate any runs.
The game-winning hit for the Bears came on the first pitch from Kalka in the top of the 11th, as Stephanie Pomes sent a fly ball just over the right field wall.
Missouri is now 31-17 on the season and now awaits a possible bid to the NCAA Regionals, which will be announced on May 11.
