April 16, 2005
Columbia, Mo. - The 18th-ranked Missouri softball team knocked off No. 4 Texas, 3-2, in 13 innings today on University Field. With the win, the Tigers improve to 32-7 on the season and 6-4 in Big 12 action. Playing in front of a record-setting 603 fans, Missouri notched three runs off four hits and held Texas to two runs off 12 hits. MU sophomore Erica Peterson (Irving, Texas) was credited with her 15th win of the campaign after striking out four batters and allowing only two swats in the final 4.2 innings of work.
Freshman designated player Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) had a huge day for Missouri and was 2-3 at the plate. Bruck blasted two doubles, including the 13th inning game winning hit, to help lift Missouri above Texas.
Scoreless through the first two innings of action, Texas (31-7, 6-3) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. With MU senior pitcher Erin Kalka (Chandler, Okla.) on the mound, UT third baseman Wynter Turner opened the inning with a single to right center and ran to second on a sacrifice bunt laid down by first baseman Alexis Garcia. Following a MicKayla Padilla fielder's choice, Turner scored on a knock to left by Tina Boutelle. Big 12 Player of the Week Chez Sievers was up next for Texas and took first on a fielder's choice in which Missouri shortstop Heather Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill.) made an attempt to throw out Boutelle at second. The overthrown toss resulted in Missouri's only error of the game and provided Padilla with time to run home.
Leading off for the Tigers in the bottom of the fifth, Bruck crushed a double to centerfield helping MU find its momentum. Kunkel took first on a bobbled catch by UT shortstop Desiree Williams that advanced Bruck to third. After sophomore Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) grounded out and pinch hitter Jaci Schuyler (Wichita, Kan.) struck out swinging, sophomore second baseman Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) took her turn against Denny and blasted her second triple of the season to right field, driving in Bruck and Kunkel for the game-tying runs. The blast forced UT Head Coach Connie Clarke to send in 2004 U.S. Olympic gold-medalist Cat Osterman for relief. Osterman closed down the inning after forcing a ground out by sophomore Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.).
After playing strong defense for nearly two regulation-length games, the Tigers made their way to the dugout to start the bottom of the 13th. Senior Ashley Hays (Swenke, Mo.) pinch ran for freshman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) who was placed on second base as per international tie-breaker rules. Bruck then smacked her second leadoff double of the game to drive in Hays for the game-winning run.
The win is MU's fifth of the season against a ranked opponent and marks the highest-ranked opponent the Tigers have topped in 2005.
The Tigers and Longhorns will close out the two-game conference series, Sunday, April 17, at noon on University Field.