May 8, 2004
Lincoln, Neb. - Improving to 12-4 in Big 12 Conference play, Missouri knocked off No. 13 Nebraska in a 4-3 victory at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. The win boosts Missouri's record to 25-23 on the season, while Nebraska falls to 38-14 and 14-2 in League play.
Freshman outfielder Sarah Stringer helped open up the game, ripping a single down the right field line for the first hit of the first inning. Facing Nebraska's right-handed pitcher Ashley DeBuhr, freshman designated player A.J. White hit her fifth double of the season. With two outs in the inning, the ball bounced off the fence allowing Stringer to score her 14th run of the season.
Returning to the top of the lineup in the third inning, Stringer extended her hitting streak, driving her second triple of the season to the center field fence. With Nicole Trimboli (CF) and Trisha Tannahill (LF) tracking the ball in the sun, the ball fell between them, while Stringer took three bases. Stringer's last triple came against Texas Tech on May 2 at home on University Field.
The Tigers led 1-0 through five innings before adding three runs to their total in the top of the sixth. Making her third appearance at the plate, Stringer improved to a perfect 3-for-3, driving her sixth double of the season to right field. With two runners on base (LeCluyse walked), White offered up a sacrifice bunt and advance to first on a fielder's choice, while DeBuhr recorded her first throwing error of the game, allowing Stringer to score and LeCluyse to take third. LeCluyse and White followed Stringer in the scoring spree, as second baseman Alli Kennewell hit a double to right center. Kennewell currently holds the second highest team RBI total with 17 on the season (LeCluyse leads with 21).
The Cornhuskers made a strong comeback attempt in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs, with only one counting as earned. Third baseman Jessica Yoachim was the first to score for Nebraska, advancing home on a throwing error by MU sophomore first baseman Joanne Loethen. Junior NU second baseman Anne Steffan added the second run on a wild pitch and outfielder Trisha Tannahill scored the Huskers final run off of an error by freshman catcher Kathy Masterson. The inning came to a close as senior pitcher/designated player Peaches James grounded out to junior shortstop Heather Kunkel.
Junior pitcher Erin Kalka tallied 11 strikeouts on the day, her seventh double-digit strikeout game of 2004. Totaling 265 on the season, Kalka moved into third on the Missouri Season Strikeout chart, passing Teresa Wilson's 1981 record of 264. Kalka is four strikeouts shy of taking over the number two spot. Striking out three consecutive batters in the bottom of the second inning, Kalka held onto a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings of play and walked away with the win (21-15).
"I'm very proud of the way the team fought through all seven innings today," Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "I think Erin really showed her strength on the mound, and all of the young women did an exceptional job of staying in the game and maintaining focus."
The Big 12 loss was only Nebraska's second of the season, the first coming to Kansas on April 28 (3-0). The Huskers will enter next week's Big 12 Conference Softball Championships as the No. 1 seed and have already clinched the 2004 regular season League title. Missouri will enter tournament play as the No. 3 seed.
Missouri and Nebraska will close out the two-game series tomorrow with the first pitch coming at 1 p.m. (CT).