March 20, 2005
Columbia, Mo. - Ranked 18th in the nation, the Missouri softball team closed the Tiger Invitational with a perfect 4-0 record after notching victories over Louisiana Tech (6-1) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, (UMKC, 6-0) at home on University Field. Adding two wins to their growing total, the Tigers are now 26-2 on the 2005 campaign. Sophomore pitcher Erica Peterson (Irving, Texas) improved to 13-1 on the season after tossing four innings of work in MU's game against Louisiana Tech and senior Erin Kalka (Chandler, Okla.) earned her first win of the year after twirling four innings against the Kangaroos.
Over the course of the today's two games, the Tigers collected 12 runs off of 13 hits and completed the two-day tournament with 35 runs on 38 hits. Missouri's pitching staff combined to strikeout 38 batters, allowing only two runs off seven hits in 24 innings of action (four games). Of the 38 strikeouts, Peterson fanned a season high 12 opponents in Missouri's final game of the tournament against UMKC. To date, the Southpaw has closed down 113 batters in 87.2 innings of work, compared with Bruck's 75 in 77.0 and Kalka's 14 in 12.
Once again strong offensively, pitcher and designated player Bruck crushed a homer in each of Missouri's games today, the first heading over the left field fence, with second clearing the center field wall. Bruck currently holds a .350 batting average and has moved to seventh on the MU season home run chart with seven yardballs to her name.
Two tigers recorded a two-hit game in Missouri's morning battle with Louisiana Tech. Redshirt freshman Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) powered a single in the first and sixth innings and was credited with one RBI, while junior Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) pounded her first double of the season in the bottom of the fourth and single in the sixth for one RBI.
Senior Heather Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill.) jumped to third in the Missouri career doubles chart after smashing her ninth of the season and 38th of her career in the Tiger's game against Louisiana Tech.
For the ninth time of the season, Missouri was able to shutout its opponent in the 3 p.m. (CT) game against UMKC. Playing in the bottom of the third inning, sophomore Leanne Bower (Arnold, Mo.) followed Bruck's moonshot to center field with a triple to right center. This season, Bowers has wracked up a team-high two triples.
Hosting the Tiger Invitational on University Field, this was Missouri's fourth tournament victory of the season and fifth and final tournament outing of the 2005 season. To date, MU leads Louisiana Tech 7-3 in the all-time series and UMKC, 43-1.
The Missouri softball team will travel to Carbondale, Ill., for a 2 p.m. (CT), game against Southern Illinois-Carbondale in the Charlotte West Stadium Tuesday, March 22.