Feb. 18, 2005
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - The Missouri softball team held off the Penn State Nittany Lions, 3-2, in its second game of the Crimson Classic in the Alabama Softball Complex of Tuscaloosa, Ala. With the win, the Tigers improve to 6-0 on the season, with freshman pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) earning her third win of the season and lefty sophomore Erica Peterson (Irving, Texas) credited with her second save.
Sophomore Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) scored the games' first run in the bottom of the first inning. Powering the ball back through the mound for a single, Bowers advanced to second on a ground out to second base by redshirt freshman Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) and scored on a two-out double to right center by freshman first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.). The double was Renth's second of the season in seven at bats.
The Lions tied the game in the top of the second inning after PSU shortstop Jen Acunto ripped a two-out double and then scored on an error by Missouri centerfielder Bowers in Penn State's next at bat. The inning came to a close as Meghan Wolfer popped out to left field.
Missouri catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) came up with a defensive gem in the top of the third inning to stuff the Lions go ahead rally. Pinch runner Stephanie Viola attempted to steal third with two outs on the board, but was nailed on the throw from Masterson to third baseman Kendra Power (Kansas City, Mo.).
The Tigers pulled ahead in the bottom of the third inning when senior Heather Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill.) laced a two-out double to left field to score Minner and move Renth to third. Penn State pitcher Missy Beseres had walked both Minner and Renth to set the stage for Kunkel's clutch hit. Kunkel and Renth were stranded to end the inning when sophomore designated hitter Jaci Schuyler (Wichita, Kan.) struck out swinging.
Penn State tied the game in the fourth inning, but Missouri came back for its third lead of the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) smacked MU's third two-out double to deep center and scored when Bowers swatted her second hit of the game for her fourth RBI of the season.
Bruck started the game and twirled four innings, striking out one batter before being relieved by Peterson. Petey tallied six strikeouts in her three innings of work, three coming consecutively to shut down Penn State's sixth inning offense.
"I'm pleased with the outing the girls had in our first game today," Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "They didn't really have a very good approach to our second game with Penn State and I think that's something we'll need to continue working on. We have a big game ahead of us tomorrow against Alabama and we all want to be rested and ready for it."
Missouri won its first game of the three-day tournament this morning against Maryland, 6-1.
Missouri will resume action in the Crimson Classic softball tournament tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. (CT) when they take on sixth-ranked Alabama in the Alabama Softball Complex. Live results and radio are available by visiting www.rolltide.com.