Missouri
Texas A&M
Missouri Softball Team Sweeps Fourth Ranked Texas A&M
5/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May. 1, 2005
Columbia, Mo. - Playing in extra innings for the seventh time of the campaign, the 20th-ranked Missouri softball team (36-10, 8-7) swept No. 4 Texas A&M (42-6, 13-4) after wrapping the two-game Big 12 Conference series with a 5-4, eight inning victory on University Field. Sophomore Sarah Stringer, (Auxvasse, Mo.) brought in the game winning run with a two-out shot over the centerfield fence, but in the frenzy of excitement, Stringer and base runner junior Kendra Power (Kansas City, Mo.) inadvertently botched the running order therefore ruling Stringer's final hit a one RBI double. The sweep is MU's third over a league opponent this season.
Similar to yesterday's 5-4 MU victory, Texas A&M pulled ahead in the first inning with today's game-opening run scored by centerfielder Sharonda McDonald. McDonald led off the inning taking first after being hit by a pitch from MU freshman Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) and stole her 47th base of the season to reach second. Rounding third on a single from outfielder Jana James, McDonald and James notched a double steal with James safe at second and McDonald sliding cleats first into the plate for the Aggie lead.
Texas A&M distanced themselves from the Tigers scoring three runs off three hits in the top of the second inning. With runners on second and third, third baseman Jamie Hinshaw knocked a two-out triple to centerfield for three RBI, the Aggies' final runs of the game.
Taking pitches from right-handed A&M ace Amanda Scarborough, the Tigers collected two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning after leadoff hitter Power walked to first and junior Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) blasted her sixth home run of the season over the centerfield fence for a two-out, two RBI knock. Roening owns three yardballs when playing against league opponents, two coming in the weekend series against A&M. Texas A&M Head Coach Jo Evans called in right-handed Jill Weynand to serve as relief on the mound beginning in the sixth inning.
The Tigers rallied in the bottom of the seventh and tied the game at four to send it into extra innings. Freshman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) led off the seventh with a double to left field and was relieved by pinch runner junior Joanne Loethen (St. Thomas, Mo). Power walked to first and both she and Loethen advanced one base on a passed ball. Sophomore centerfielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) offered up her third sacrifice fly of the season to left fielder James bringing home Loethen and sending Power to third after A&M second baseman Joy Davis was burned with a catching error. 2-3 on the day, Roening earned her third RBI of the game after punching a single to right field that gave Power time to run home.
Senior pitcher Erin Kalka (Chandler, Okla.) was credited with her sixth win of the season and managed to shut down the Aggie offense in the top of the eighth. On the day, Kalka tallied four strikeouts and two walks, giving up four hits, and no runs in 3.0 innings of work.
Only needing one run to win the series, senior shortstop Heather Kunkel (Oak Forst, Ill,) opened the inning with MU's second lead off hit of the game, eventually taking second base on a ground out sacrifice from sophomore catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.). Loethen drew the second MU out with a fly to second base, bringing up Power, who waked to first for the third time of the game. With runners on the corners, Stringer ripped the ball over the wall in center field, bringing home Kunkel for the game-winning run. What would have been Stringer's first career home run was eventually ruled a double after a base running error was called on the Tigers.
Now 8-7 in conference action, the Tigers will head to Lawrence, Kan., for the second game of the Border Showdown Series, presented by the Ford Midwest Dealers, Wednesday, May 4, at 5 p.m. (CT) in Arrocha Park.
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