April 3, 2004
Columbia, Mo. - Taking their game into 14 innings, the Missouri softball team pulled out its third conference victory of the season in a 3-2 win over Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State. The win brings the Tigers to 16-19 on the season, and gave pitcher Erin Kalka a career-high 25 strikeouts in a single game.
Scoreless through 13 innings of play, Oklahoma State put the games' first runs on the board. At the top of the 14th, the Cowgirls found two runs by Lauren Kitchens and Megan Carey. With Kalka taking her 25th strikeout of the day against Jade Lindley, the Cowgirls were forced to take to the field in an attempt to win the game defensively,
It was not to be for Oklahoma State as Missouri started the inning with A.J. White on second base (as per NCAA Softball extra inning rules). With two outs by Ashley Hays and Leanne Bowers, White was able to advance to third and finally home as Joanne Loethen ripped a single. White's run was Missouri's first of the game and was followed soon after with a run by Loethen off of a single by Morgan LeCluyse. Heather Kunkel took to first base on a walk and with bases loaded, freshman Alli Kennewell brought home the game winning runs by LeCluyse and Loethen with a single to left field.
"The team had some big plays today," head coach Ty Singleton said. "I can honestly say this is our biggest game of the year. Erin Kalka was throwing awesome out there and in our final inning of play, each of the girls that came up to the box had huge plays."
Junior Erin Kalka had an impressive game, totaling 25 strikeouts on 14 innings. A no-hitter through nine innings, the first hit off of Chandler, Okla., native Kalka came in the 10th inning with a single by Kitchens.
Kalka entered the game with 157 strikeouts on the season. Totaling 25 on the day, Kalka moved to fifth in the Missouri all-time career strikeout chart (521). Kalka is 13 shy of taking over the No. 4 spot currently held by 1991-1995 MU player Kacey Marshall.
Freshman Kathy Masterson made two huge saves at the plate, refusing to give the Cowgirls their much-needed runs in extra innings. With Anderson placed on second to start the 10th, Nicholson grounded out to shortstop followed with a walk by Lindley and single by Kitchens. Attempting to steal home, Anderson slid to the plate, but a powerful throw by leftfielder Ashley Hays connected with Masterson's quick glove to tag her out and bring the Tigers up to bat.
Masterson's second big play came in similar fashion just one inning later. At the top of the 11th, Kitchens was placed on second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With a single by Shanel Scott, Courtney Totte flied out to shortstop and Scott advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs on the board, Kitchens ran for home, but was thrown out at the plate again on a play from Hays to Masterson.
"It's a play we've been practicing every day for the past six months," Masterson said. "When I was behind the plate I just had to remember to breathe and relax. Erin (Kalka) was throwing her hear out during that game, and there was no way that we were going to let her lose the game because of a bad play."
Missouri will close out its series against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State tomorrow at 1 p.m. on University Field. The Tigers' next Conference game will be at home on Wednesday, April 7, at 6 p.m. CT against Border War rival Kansas.