May 8, 2005
Columbia, Mo. - The 18th-ranked Missouri softball team (38-11, 10-8) held off No. 24 Nebraska (33-18, 9-9) in a 1-0 victory at University Field that determined the No. 5 seed for the upcoming Big 12 Conference tournament. The weekend series split with Nebraska sends Missouri into the Thursday morning 11 a.m. (CT), game against fourth-seeded Baylor.
After a one-hour rain delay postponed the final regular season game, sophomore Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) scored Missouri's game-winning run with a sixth-inning leadoff blast to left field. The moonshot was her ninth of the season and fifth when batting in the leadoff position. As a team, the Tigers were collected four hits off of Husker starter Ashley DeBuhr, who notched four strikeouts from her work on the mound.
On a day in which the Missouri softball coaching staff honored its seniors, right-handed ace Erin Kalka (Chandler, Okla.) came up with her seventh win of the season, fanning a season-high 10 batters while holding the Huskers to only three hits.
"I was really very pleased with the way the team finished today," Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "Kalka really stepped up for us and I'm glad we were able to walk away with the win on senior day."
Ashley Hays (Swinkey, Mo.), Kalka and Heather Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill.) were all recognized prior to first pitch for their four years of commitment and dedication to the Missouri softball program. Hays made her 11th start of the season in left field, while Kunkel made her 212th career start at shortstop.
The Tigers will make their 10th Big 12 Softball tournament appearance Thursday, May 12, when they take on seventh-ranked Baylor. Earlier in the campaign, Missouri suffered two losses to the Bears, but overall hold a 17-11 lead in the all-time series.