March 28, 2004
Austin, Tx-The Missouri Tigers softball team swept the defending Big 12 champions in their conference opener. The Tigers won game two 6-2. With the win the Tigers improve to 15-19 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
"This is exactly the way we wanted to start conference play," head coach Ty Singleton said. "As we've said all season everything up until this point was preseason and the approach we took this weekend was exactly what I asked the young women to do, they really stepped up to the challenge this weekend."
The Longhorns got things going in the bottom of the first inning when Wieszczak and Turner reached base on balls and then Wieszczak advanced on a stolen base, the Tigers tightened up defensively and behind the pitching of Erin Kalka the inning ended when LeCluyse caught a foul ball headed for left field, keeping the game scoreless through the first inning.
The Tigers started swinging their bats in the second inning when Heather Kunkel started the inning with a double, her seventh of the season, and then advanced to third on a fly out to second base by Alli Kennewell. AJ White giving the Tigers the early 1-0 lead drove Kunkel home on a single.
The Longhorns started their second inning the same way the Tigers did, getting a double from Tamara Poppe and then Willis reached base after being hit by a Tiger pitch. The Tiger defense took over when Alexis Garcia grounded into a double play to end the inning for the Longhorns.
The Tigers kept their bats warm going into the top of the third inning, getting a single from Kathy Masterson and having Leanne Bowers and Joanne Loethen advance on a fielders choice and a Longhorn error. Masterson and Bowers were driven home on a double by Morgan LeCluyse, her seventh of the season. The scoring wasn't over for the Tigers as Alli Kennewell bringing the Tiger lead to 5-0 drove both Morgan LeCluyse and Jonnne Loethen home on a single through the right center.
The Longhorns tried to get a little rally going in the bottom of the third inning, getting their second hit of the game on a single from Hall. Wieszczak raced base on balls to give the Longhorns two base runners. The rally was stopped short as the Tiger defense came up with a double play to end the inning when Wynter Turner grounded out to third base and shortstop Hall was out on the play.
The Longhorns got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when second baseman Chez Sievers hit a home run to bring the score to 5-1, Tigers. The Longhorns continued to rally getting hits from Christina Gwynn, Megan Willis and Alexis Garcia, putting two runners on base. The Tigers made a pitching change in the bottom of the fourth inning, bringing in Erica Petersen. With two runners on base Petersen was able to strikeout the next batter to end the Longhorn rally.
To start the fifth inning Longhorn pitcher Christina Gwynn walked Heather Kunkel but was able to strikeout the next two Tiger batters to end the inning. Texas third baseman Wynter Turner pulled the Longhorns closer with a triple to right field and then scored on a tiger passed ball bringing the score to 5-2, Tigers.
Heading into the seventh inning the Tigers held a 5-2, lead and were looking for an assurance run. Joanne Loethen started swinging her bat getting a single to reach base. Morgan LeCluyse reached base on a fielders choice as Loethen was out at second, LeCluyse advanced to third when Kunkel grounded out to second base. LeCluyse advanced home on a Longhorn error giving the Tigers the game 6-2.