May 9, 2004
Lincoln, Neb. - Closing out their two-game series with a 1-0 shutout over No. 13 Nebraska, the Missouri softball team handed the Cornhuskers their first sweep of the season, with MU freshman Alli Kennewell propelling the Tigers with her homerun in the second inning. Playing at Bowlin Field, Missouri improved to 26-24 overall, while Nebraska drops to 38-15 and 14-3. Nebraska entered today's game as the Big 12 Conference regular-season champions.
"Our team put up a great fight today," Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "Each of the women played with a lot of heart, and I think it really showed in their actions on the field."
Hitting against right-handed Nebraska pitcher Peaches James, Kennewell registered the scoring blow with a 1-0 count and one out, good for her second homerun of the season. Driving the ball over the centerfield fence, Kennewell rounded the bases and crossed home plate to the cheers of her teammates.
Helping hold Nebraska scoreless, freshman outfielder Sarah Stringer assisted in closing out the seventh inning with a huge save, diving in right field for a fly ball hit by Nebraska leadoff batter Nicole Trombolli. Catching Nebraska's next out was Kennewell, followed with a game winning putout from Kennewell to sophomore Joanne Loethen for the out at first.
Freshman Erica Peterson made her sixth start of the season and threw her first complete game of 2004 (1-2 overall, 1-0 Big 12 Conference). In her first two innings of play she managed to shutdown the Huskers, each time striking out Nebraska's third batter looking. She carried a no-hitter through three innings before giving up a single in the fourth with two outs. Freshman Leanne Bowers helped close the inning, catching a fly ball to centerfield while stranding NU's Trisha Tannahill second base. Peterson hit her stride in the fifth inning, fanning three straight batters. On the day, Peterson totaled four strikeouts while giving up only two hits.
"Erica (Peterson) went out there and was prepared mentally," Singleton said. "She's tough as nails and as the seventh inning wore on you could see her just getting stronger and stronger. She had a lot of good defense behind her. Overall, I'm just really pleased with the outcome of the game."
Missouri has now won six games this season by one run, while 14 of the wins have come in the form of a shutout. Nebraska's loss was their fourth shutout by a Big 12 opponent and eighth overall shutout loss of the season.
Entering as the No. 3 seed, Missouri will travel to the Big 12 Conference Softball Championships and play game one on Thursday, May 13 at 10 a.m., on field two at Oklahoma City, Okla. The Tigers will face the No. 6 seed.