April 9, 2004

Back on the road, the 18-19 Missouri softball team will continue its conference play against No. 14/17 Oklahoma in a doubleheader, on Marita Hynes Field, Saturday, April 10, in Norman, Okla. Game one is set to begin at noon, with game two following at 2 p.m.

5-0 in the competitive Big 12 Conference, the Tigers are second in the league, while Oklahoma is fifth with a 3-4 Conference record (29-14 overall). Nebraska continues to lead the Big 12 with a spotless 6-0 Conference campaign.

Down five games in the all-time series (31-36), the Tigers have a chance to close the gap with two wins at the OU Softball Complex. In last season's outing, Missouri split with Oklahoma (W, 2-0; L, 5-1) while playing in Norman.

Off to a strong Conference start, the 2004 season marks the first time the Tigers have ever opened a Big 12 Campaign with five straight wins. The longest Conference streak for Missouri came during the 1997 season, as the Tigers took eight between March 29 and April 6. It was the Oklahoma Sooners who put an end to Missouri's streak handing the team a 2-1 loss. In the end, Missouri would come out on top, 15-3 on the season, the Tigers took both the regular-season and tournament championship titles.

Fast-forward to 2004 and Missouri's expected pitcher for the Oklahoma series is junior Erin Kalka. Named Big 12 Pitcher of the week for her impressive performance against Oklahoma State during last weekend's series, Kalka currently holds a 1.82 ERA, with a 14-11 record. One strikeout ahead of her 2003 season total (203 as of April 9, 2004), Kalka is well on her way to cracking into the top-five list for Missouri's All-Time Season Strikeout Record.

LOOKING AHEAD: Missouri will play game two of the Kansas Border War series on Wednesday, April 14, at 5 p.m., in Lawrence, Kan.