Feb. 24, 2005

Ranked for the first time since April 29, 2003, the No. 24 Missouri softball team (8-1) will make its third tournament appearance of the season when they travel to Louisville, Ky., for the University of Louisville Courtyard Marriott Red & Black Classic, Friday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, Feb. 27. Missouri will take on teams from Louisville, Minnesota, Ball State and Iowa throughout the three day tournament, playing two games on Feb. 23, at 2:30 p.m.(Louisville) and 4:30 p.m. (CT)(Minnesota). Live stats will be available for Missouri's opening game against Louisville at 2:30 p.m., with the possibility of live stats for the remainder of MU's games contingent upon press box capabilities.

After opening the 2005 campaign with a perfect 4-0 record, including two wins over then-No. 10 Florida State at the Seminole Classic, the Tigers continued work in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where they knocked off teams from Maryland, Penn State and host school, sixth-ranked Alabama. Suffering only one loss along the way, MU finished third in the Crimson Classic and sophomore pitcher Erica Peterson and redshirt freshman Micaela Minner were named to the Crimson Classic All-Tournament team.

Now off to their best start since the 1997 season, Missouri will find a familiar opponent in this week's host team. The Tigers and Cardinals of Louisville last squared off in a seven inning game May 20, 2004, in Los Angeles for the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Tigers fell 1-0 to the Cardinals in their opening game and were late eliminated from the Region 2 bracket after dropping a 4-3 loss to Mississippi Valley State. Missouri enters the first game of the Courtyard Marriott Red & Black Classic down 0-4 to Louisville in the all-time series. Of Note: Team All-Time Last Meeting Louisville 0-4 L, 1-0 at NCAA Regionals (5/20/04) Minnesota 10-5 L, 10-4 at Metrodome Invit. (2/12/00) Ball State 2-0 W, 2-1 (8) at MU Invitational (3/21/98) Iowa: 9-6 L, 5-1 at USF Speedline Classic (3/7/98)