Jan. 27, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - Ranked 18th in the nation, the Missouri softball team will open its 2006 season with the annual Black and Gold Game, Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m (CST) on the newly renovated University Field. Admission is free to the public.

Fans will have the opportunity to watch Missouri's first preseason ranked softball team in five years take the field in one of its final preparation games for the 2006 campaign. The Tigers are coming off of a 44-15 season in which they made their third consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament appearance with several individuals setting new Missouri season and career records.

Fourteen members of Missouri's 2005 squad have returned for the upcoming season including All-Midwest Region Team member redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) and All-Big 12 members senior Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.), juniors Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) and Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.), sophomore Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) and Minner.

The Tigers will travel to Atlanta, Ga., for their first three-game series of the season beginning Friday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. (CST) against defending ACC Champions No. 24 Georgia Tech.