May 11, 2004
With a 13-4 Big 12 Conference record (26-23 overall), third-seeded Missouri will open Big 12 tournament action against No. 6-seeded Oklahoma State on Thursday, May 13, at 10 a.m. on Field Two at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. The winner will advance to the Thursday night game at 8 p.m., while the loser will play at 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
Third in the league, the Missouri softball team is riding a three-game winning streak that includes two wins over No. 1-seeded and regular-season Big 12 Champion No. 13 Nebraska. Oklahoma State enters the game with a 7-10 conference record, having suffered two losses to the Tigers earlier in the 2004 season.
In Big 12 tournament action, Missouri holds a 3-1 series lead over the Cowgirls. The two first met in game three of the post season at the inaugural Big 12 Conference Softball Tournament on May 10, 1996. At the time, Oklahoma State was seeded No. 2, while Missouri opened play as the No. 3 seed. The Tigers suffered their only Big 12 post-season loss to OSU, 11-4.
The two schools would meet again in the 1997 conference tournament. Playing in game nine, No. 1 seeded Missouri held the fifth-seeded Cowgirls to two runs, while taking six of their own to advance in the brackets. As it would turn out, Missouri and OSU met one final time for the Championship title, with MU coming out on top 3-1. It is the only time in school history that a Missouri team has claimed a Big 12 title in ANY sport.
Missouri's longest game of the 2004 season came versus OSU at University Field on April 3. Playing for 14 innings, the Tigers pulled out a 3-2 win, securing the victory with a two-out, bases-loaded single by freshman Alli Kennewell. A memorable game for Missouri, junior pitcher Erin Kalka recorded the third-highest NCAA single game strikeout record with a total of 25 on the day. The total team effort helped Missouri snap a five-game losing streak to the Cowgirls that dated back to the 2001 season.
Game two between Missouri and Oklahoma State (April 4) provided the Tigers with their eighth shutout of the season (5-0) and fourth consecutive conference win. Missouri's impressive week was recognized on April 6 as Kalka was honored as Big 12 Pitcher of the Week. Out of all of the opponents the Tigers have faced over the past 30 years, Oklahoma State holds the largest margin of wins over Missouri (53-23) in the all-time series record. However, since the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, Missouri holds an 11-10 record over the Cowgirls.
Led by Head Coach Connie Clark, Texas will attempt to claim its third consecutive (fourth overall) Big 12 Conference Championship title. The Longhorns hold a 5-13 league record and begin play on Wednesday, May 12, in game one against No. 9 Iowa State.
ON TV: Friday's (May 14) 5 p.m. game will be televised on Fox Sports Net as will the Saturday, May 15, 6 p.m. championship game.