March 16, 2005
Columbia, Mo.- The No. 18 Missouri softball team improved to 21-2 on the season after shutting out in-state rival, Southwest Missouri State, 8-0, in five innings on University Field. From their work on the mound, freshman pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) and sophomore Erica Peterson (Irving, Texas) combined for their second no-hitter of the season, while the rest of the Tiger team came out of the gates swinging, scoring three runs in the first inning and holding the Bears hitless through five innings of play. The 21-2 record is the best start on a season in the 30-year history of the Missouri softball program.
On the day, Bruck faced 18 batters, fanning five and giving up only three walks. With the win, Bruck improves to 11-1 on the season and now holds a 1.64 ERA. Peterson entered the game in the top of the fifth inning and helped shut down the Bears on a routine ground out.
Stellar at the plate, Bruck pounded a double and three RBI in the bottom of the fifth and final inning. With the crush, Bruck now leads the teams with doubles this season (eight) and holds a .354 batting average.
Continuing to dominate offensively, the Tigers were led by senior shortstop Heather Kunkel. 1-2 on the day, Kunkel blasted her sixth home run of the season over the outfield fence to end the game. The Oak Forest, Ill., native's homer was her 14th career bomb and moves her to fifth on the Missouri career home run chart alongside Erin Erickson (1999-2001) and Morgan LeCluyse (2001-04).
The Tigers will return to action tomorrow, in a 3 p.m. game against the Evansville Purple Aces in Evansville, Ind.