April 24, 2005
Waco, Texas -- Playing game two against No. 8 Baylor (43-8, 10-5) at Getterman Stadium in Waco, Texas, the 19th-ranked Missouri softball team lost a 4-3 battle to the Bears and fell to 32-10 on the season and 6-7 in Big 12 action.
Missouri scored first in today's game against the Bears. Freshman designated played Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) led off for the Tigers in the second inning and ripped a double, her 13th of the season, to left field, advancing home two plays later on a one out single to center field by sophomore catcher Kathy Masteron (St. Louis, Mo.). Masterson is credited with 22 RBI this season, eight coming against Big 12 opponents. Bruck now stands tied for fourth on the MU season doubles chart.
Power hitter redshirt freshman Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) crushed her 14th home run of the season to drive in two runs for the Tigers in the third. Sophomore center fielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) led off the inning powering a single to right field to reach first. Junior Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) was up next for the Tigers and connected on a fly ball to left field that was caught in a diving save by BU outfielder Kelly Osburn. With Minner at the plate, Baylor Head Coach Glenn Moore called up Lisa Ferguson from the bullpen to relieve starter Cristin Vitek. Minner, a lefty who leads her teammates in several batting categories, owned a 1-1 count when she found the pitch she needed to launch the ball far over the wall in right center. Minner entered the weekend series 10th in the nation, averaging 0.33 home runs per game (13 home runs, 40 games).
The Bears answered MU's 3-0 lead with a home run in the bottom of the fourth and tied the game with two runs in the sixth. Senior Tiger pitcher Erin Kalka (Chandler, Okla.) gave up a leadoff blast to left field to BU first baseman Tessa Lynam and three straight hits, including a triple by shortstop Kim Wilmoth, for the tie.
Moving to the seventh, the Tigers failed to score a run, bringing Baylor back to the plate for the bottom of the inning. After forcing a ground out to shortstop Heather Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill.), Kalka gave up a double to left center placing the go ahead run on second. Bruck moved to the mound relieving Kalka and gave up a back-to-back walks to load the bases and bring up designated player Chelsi Lake who managed a single to drive in the game winning run.
Altogether, Kalka (4-5) struck out three in six innings of work, but allowed three runs off nine hits.
The Tigers return home to host their final non-conference game of the season, Wednesday, April 27, against North Dakota State. The doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m. (CT) with game two slated for a 6 p.m. (CT) start.