Feb. 25, 2005
Louisville, Ky. - The No. 24 Missouri softball team went 1-1 at the Louisville University Courtyard Marriott Red & Black Classic today at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville, Ky., after shutting down host team Louisville, 4-0 and falling to Minnesota, 6-5, in extra innings. Now, 9-2 on the season, right-handed pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) was credited with the Louisville win and is 4-1 in her freshman campaign. Sophomore Erica Peterson (Irving, Texas) earned her third save of the year twirling three innings against the Louisville Cardinals and striking out four batters but dropped her first loss of the season in MU's disheartening loss to the Golden Gophers.
Game One: Missouri: 4 Louisville: 0 Playing game one against Louisville in 40 degree weather, Missouri warmed up its bats in the third inning starting with senior outfielder Ashley Hays' (Swinkey, Mo.) standup double to right center. Junior Kendra Power (Kansas City, Mo.) then walked and both MU runners, Hays and Power, advanced one base on a ground out by sophomore Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.). Entering the lineup for sophomore second baseman Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.), sophomore Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) punched a single to the hole in right center, scoring Hays and Power for Missouri's first two runs of the game.
Missouri's next run came in the top of the sixth inning after redshirt freshman Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) crushed her second double of the season to center field. Freshman Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.) entered the game as pinch runner for Minner and took third on a flyout to center field by freshman Jaci Schuyler (Wichita, Kan.). With the wind blowing out, senior shortstop Heather Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill.) drove a single to center field, scoring Henke with Kunkel's sixth RBI of the season.
The Tigers finished scoring with one run plated in the top of the seventh inning. Power got things started with Missouri's third double of the game and scored on a one-out single from leadoff hitter Bowers. Missouri's 4-0 win avenged last season's 0-1 loss to Louisville in the NCAA regionals and was Missouri's first win over the Cardinals in five meetings. It was also the Tigers' second shutout of the season.
Game Two: Missouri: 5 Minnesota: 6 (Eight Innings) In Missouri's second game of the Louisville Courtyard Marriott Red & Black Classic, the Tigers and Golden Gophers played eight innings to determine a winner.
MU answered Minnesota's first inning two-run lead with runs from sophomore Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) and redshirt freshman Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas). MU's leadoff hitter for 66 consecutive games, Bower crushed her second homer of the season, this one dropping over the right field fence of Ulmer Stadium. The yard ball extends Bower's hit streak to eight games, MU's longest active hit streak. With one out, Minner walked to first and advanced to third on an error by Minnesota catcher Megan Higginbotham. Taking a healthy lead off of third base, Minner slid home safely on a wild pitch by Lyn Peyer.
Scoreless in the second inning Minnesota took its second lead of the game after MU pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) gave up back-to-back hits and shortstop Heather Kunkel was called for runner interference at third on a Kendra Power assisted putout.
Down two runs entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Missouri was able to tie the game on three consecutive hits. Power-hitters Minner and sophomore Jaci Schuyler (Wichita, Kan.) pounded singles in their at-bats and were replaced by pinch runners Sara Simons (Kearney, Mo.) and Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.), respectively. Freshman first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill,) grounded into a double play from shortstop to first base, forcing Simons back to the dugout for out number two. Senior Heather Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill.) came through for the Tigers with a clutch double to center field that scored Stringer for Missouri's third run. The double was Kunkel's 32nd of her career and moves her to sixth in the MU career doubles record book. Up next for the Tigers, second baseman Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) took first on an error by Minnesota first baseman Valerie Alston and advanced to second on the throw while Kunkel rounded third and came home for the game-tying run.
Heading into extra innings, Minnesota was able to score two runs off two hits, while Missouri came up short with one final run from junior Joanne Loethen for the one-run loss. In Missouri's turn on offense, Schuyler was placed on second as per the International Tie Breaker Rule, and was picked off for MU's first out. Renth was next at the plate and had her sixth hit and third double of the season to take second base. Loethen entered the game as pinch runner and after Kunkel powered a single to left field, Loethen took third, scoring on the next play as Kennewell was safe on a fielder's choice.
Missouri will take on Ball State tomorrow at 2 p.m. (CT) at Ulmer Stadium.