Feb. 20, 2005
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - The Missouri softball team improved to 8-1 on the season after dropping Penn State 5-1 at the Crimson Classic in the Alabama Softball Complex of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Sophomore pitcher Erica Peterson (Irving, Texas) and redshirt freshman Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) were named members of the 2005 Crimson Classic All-Tournament team.
Missouri scored all five of its runs in the top of the seventh inning. Freshman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) took first on an error by PSU first baseman Stephanie Viola and junior Joanne Loethen (St. Thomas, Mo.) came into pinch run, advancing to second after junior Heather Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill.) struck out and sophomore A.J. White (Tallmadge, Ohio) walked. Sophomore catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) ripped a single and advanced to second on the throw bringing Loethen home for Missouri's first run and moving White to third. In a sacrifice fly out to left field by senior Ashley Hays (Swinkey, Mo.) Masterson and White ran home for MU's second and third runs. Junior Kendra Power (Kansas City, Mo.) and sophomore Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) both singled and advanced on a throw to bring up sophomore second baseman Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) who walked to load the bases for Minner. Reaching first on a fielder's choice, and advancing to second on an PSU's sixth error of the game both Power and Bowers ran home.
Penn State scored it's only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as shortstop Jen Acunto smacked a homer over the left field fence.
The win gives Peterson a 5-0 record this season and a .75 ERA. Minner, who tallied three homers in the tournament holds a .440 batting average and 1.080 slugging percentage.
The Tigers will resume action next Friday, Feb. 25, at 2:30 p.m., (CT) against Louisville in the Louisville Courtyard Red & Black Tournament in Louisville, Ky.