April 28, 2004
Ames, Iowa - The Missouri softball team returned to Big 12 Conference play with a 9-0 shutout over Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, at the Southwest Athletic Complex. With winds gusts from 50-60 m.p.h. blowing to outfield, Missouri had two homeruns in the game and four doubles on their way to their 12th shutout of the season. Missouri improves to 22-22 overall and 9-3 in the league, while Iowa State drops to 11-27 and 1-10.
The Tigers got off to a quick start earning four runs in the first inning and five consecutive hits. With one out on the board, freshman catcher Kathy Masterson stepped up to the plate and hit a double to left field, followed by a double to centerfield by senior outfielder Morgan LeCluyse. LeCluyse's ninth double of the season allowed Masterson to cross the plate for the first run of the game. Designated player A.J. White took her turn against right-handed Cyclone pitcher Alyssa Ransom with a single to center field. Missouri's biggest play of the inning came by junior shortstop Heather Kunkel as she hit a long ball over the centerfield fence (220) for the first homerun of the game, her third of the season and three RBI.
Scoring four runs on three hits in the second inning, freshman Sarah Stringer, LeCluyse, White and Kunkel made it home closing out the inning with a domineering 8-0 lead.
With a 1-2 count and two outs in the top of the fourth, White ripped her third homerun of the season over Cyclone centerfielder Fallon Johnson. It was Missouri's only run of the inning and final of the game coming off of Iowa State right-handed freshman pitcher Katie Reichling.
Missouri junior pitcher Erin Kalka gave up only one hit in three innings of play, allowing shortstop Cary Akins a single to centerfield with one out on the board. The Tigers' defense came back strong turning a double as Iowa State catcher Ashley Killeen lined to Kalka who turned to sophomore Joanne Loathen for the out at first. Through the first of Missouri's two games against Iowa State, Kalka racked up four strikeouts before handing off the ball to freshman pitcher Erica Peterson in the fourth. Making her 29th appearance of the season on the mound, Peterson helped hold the Cyclones scoreless, facing eight batters in two innings.
Missouri's 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 will close out the second game of their doubleheader against Iowa State at approximately 4 p.m. (CT).