April 28, 2004
Ames, Iowa - The Missouri softball team returned to Big 12 Conference play sweeping Iowa State on Wednesday in a 9-0 shutout in game one and a 10-1 whitewash in game two of the doubleheader in Ames, Iowa. Playing at the Southwest Athletic Complex, the Tigers recorded five homeruns in two games, with winds gusts from 50-60 m.p.h. blowing out of the ballpark. The Tigers improved to 23-22 overall and 10-3 in the league while Iowa State fell to 11-28 and 1-11.
Designated player A.J. White had a big series, recording a homerun over the centerfield fence in both of Missouri's games. With a 1-2 count and two outs in the top of the fourth inning of game one, White ripped the ball over Cyclone centerfielder Fallon Johnson. It was Missouri's only run of the inning and final tally of the first game coming off of Iowa State right-handed freshman pitcher Katie Reichling. White's leadoff homerun in the second inning of game two also came against Reichling. The freshman from Tallmadge, Ohio, got a hold of the ball to drive it out of the park and score the Tigers' first run of the second game.
Missouri's first homerun of the day came from junior shortstop Heather Kunkel in the first inning. Kunkel hit a long ball over the centerfield fence for her third round tripper of the season.
Freshman Leanne Bowers helped the Tigers grabbed an 8-1 lead in the sixth inning of game two. With a 3-2 count and two outs, Bowers scored her fourth homerun of the season to tie White with the season team homerun lead.
The Tigers' fifth homerun of the day came by senior outfielder Morgan LeCluyse. A former Iowa State Cyclone her freshman year, LeCluyse took an inside pitch for a ride over the fence driving in two RBI and Missouri's ninth and tenth run of the second game.
Missouri junior pitcher Erin Kalka racked up 11 strikeouts in the Tigers' doubleheader. Improving hre total to 240 punch outs on the season, Kalka is within two strikeouts of fifth place in the MU season strikeout chart while currently boasting a 1.88 ERA.
Missouri's game one win in five innings was the Tigers' fifth of the season, the last coming at Portland State on March 23 (8-0). The nine-run win tied Missouri's best margin of victory, last taking a nine-run win against Prairie View on Feb. 22 at the Rajun' Cajun Tournament in Lafayette, La.
The Tigers return home to face off Texas Tech in a two-game series Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m. and game two on Sunday, May 2 at noon. The game will be Missouri's final home series of the season, and sole senior Morgan LeCluyse will be recognized prior to the start of Sunday's game for her three years of dedication to the team.