May 21, 2005
Columbia, Mo. - The 16th ranked Missouri Tigers earned its first win of the season tonight against #22 Southern Illinois-Carbondale with a 9-0 decision in five innings in an NCAA Tournament elimination game. SIU had beaten Missouri in their previous two meetings including a 3-0 win in the first game of the NCAA Regional Championships on Friday at University Field.
Missouri (44-14) advances to face Stanford (42-14), which has not lost in the tournament, at 1 p.m. on Sunday while the Salukis finish the season 47-14.
After walking her first two batters, Missouri pitcher Erica Peterson went on to pitch her first collegiate complete game no-hitter striking out five while only walking two. Peterson is now 19-3 on the season.
Starting it off for Missouri in the first inning, freshman Jen Bruck singled to left field and sophomore Leanne Bowers scored on an SIU error, as Bruck's sharp ground ball scooted through the legs of LF Krystal Stein and rolled to the fence.
In the second inning, Missouri senior Heather Kunkel hit her 16th homerun of the season over the left field wall. Kunkel's homerun tied her for the Missouri single season record.
With the bases loaded in the third, SIU pitcher Amy Harre walked Missouri junior Janessa Roening bringing in Bowers. Kunkel singled up the middle bringing freshman Amy Henke and Bruck home. Sophomore Kathy Masterson followed with a double down the right field line, enabling Kunkel to score, and after one more run came home, the Tigers held a commanding 7-0 lead after three innings.
In the fourth inning, Bowers lead off with a walk and was driven in with a double to right center by Bruck. Freshman Amanda Renth singled up the middle scoring Bruck.
It was a stark contrast offensively for Mizzou from the previous night against SIU, as the Tigers collected nine hits and benefited from six walks by Saluki pitchers. Friday afternoon, in SIU's 3-0 win over the Tigers, Mizzou had seven hits, but stranded eight runners.
Kunkel was the hitting star of the night for MU, as the senior shortstop went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Leadoff hitter Leanne Bowers had two hits and scored three runs, while Bruck was 2-for-2, including a double.