May 2, 2004
Columbia, Mo. - Bouncing back from a disappointing loss in Saturday's game to Texas Tech (1-0), the Missouri softball team cut the Sunday afternoon game short with a 10-0 shutout in five innings at University Field. The Tigers improve to 24-23 overall and 11-4 in the Big 12 Conference, while Texas Tech falls to 22-35 and 2-16.
Starting the game strong, junior pitcher Erin Kalka struck out the side in the top of the first to bring up freshman Leanne Bowers for Missouri's first at bat. Reaching first on an error by Texas Tech shortstop Heather Parker, Bowers stole two bases advancing to third. On a fly ball to left field by freshman Sarah Stringer, Bowers put Missouri's first run on the board and was followed soon after by senior outfielder Morgan LeCluyse who recorded her third homerun of the season and 15th of her career. After the shot to left field, LeCluyse crossed the plate to a standing ovation from the 358 fans in the stands.
In their next turn at the plate, Missouri added three runs to their total, beginning with a leadoff homerun to right field by sophomore Samantha Fleeman. Fleeman is now tied with Bowers and junior Heather Kunkel for most homeruns by a Tiger in 2004 with four round-trippers. Missouri's other two runs came on a single by Stringer allowing sophomores Kendra Power and Morgan Kent to score. In all, Stringer closed out the game with career-high five RBI.
"It was nice to be able to have the offensive output at home and show our fans what we can do," Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "We've had our offense on the road but not at home so it's nice for the fans."
In Missouri's final turn at bat, five consecutive Tigers recorded hits. Power got the inning started with a double, returning the Tigers' to the top of the lineup with a single by Bowers. The Red Raiders made their third pitching change of the game, pulling junior Keely Tucker out of the bullpen. Tucker gave up a triple to Stringer (her first triple of the season) increasing Missouri's lead to 7-0. Recording her second hit of the game, LeCluyse recorded a double, bringing home Stringer, while LeCluyse and Kennewell scored the ninth and 10th runs on sacrifice flies by Kunkel and Fleeman respectively.
"We had a firm talk with the team last night," Singleton said. "We told them we didn't like the approach they took going into yesterday's game. We wanted them to change their approach for today's game and it looks like it worked!"
Right-handed pitcher Kalka worked four innings in the game, passing the ball to freshman Erica Peterson for the final inning of action. Kalka tallied five strikeouts and allowed only two hits against the 15 batters she faced. Kalka closed out the home season with a 0.78 ERA at home.
In all, Missouri had four stolen bases on the day with Bowers adding three to her already team-high total of 21.
The Tigers will spend the week preparing for their upcoming road trip to Nebraska on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9. The two-game series will close out Missouri's regular season.