Feb. 9, 2006
For the first time in the 31-year history of the Missouri softball program, the 18th-ranked Tigers will travel to Atlanta, Ga., for a three-game series at Glenn Field against No. 24 Georgia Tech. A season-opener for both teams, game one is set for Friday, Feb. 9, at 11 a.m. (CST), followed by game two at 1 p.m. on Friday with game three played on Satuday at 11 a.m. Gametracker will be provided by the Georgia Tech Sports Information Office and can be accessed by visiting the Missouri softball schedule page at mutigers.com.
The Tigers are coming off of a 44-15 campaign in which they return eight starters to their 18-member squad including All-Big 12 team members, outfielders Janessa Roening, Leanne Bowers and Micaela Minner, catcher Kathy Masterson and infielder Amanda Renth. In last season's outing, Missouri made a program record-setting third straight NCAA Regional Tournament appearance, hosting eventual tournament champion Stanford, Robert Morris and Southern Illinois at University Field.
Returning to the circle and likely to make her 23rd career start, sophomore Jen Bruck is back for the Tigers. Bruck closed out the 2005 season with a 1.75 ERA and made a team-high 22 starts. Junior catcher Masterson may be called on to twirl for the Tigers and newcomer Megan Dennis could also see time on the mound.
Current Missouri home run season record holder Minner will likely remain in the top-half of the Tiger lineup. With 17 crushes last season, Minner is tied for fifth in the Missouri career home run record book, with Bruck in seventh (16) and Bowers in 10th (13). Missouri combined for a program-high 82 home runs in 2005, shattering the previous high of 36 set in 1997.
Now a junior, Bowers is expected to lead the Missouri lineup for the 113th time of her career. From the leadoff position, Bowers tallied 24 hits in 2005, including 18 singles, two doubles and five home runs.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets... Ranked as high as No. 24 in the nation, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were crowned 2005 ACC regular season champions and earned their second tournament title in four seasons under the direction of Head Coach Ehren Earleywine. The 2006 ACC Preseason poll picked Georgia Tech to finish second in the league.
Seven starters return to the Georgia Tech program including left-handed pitcher Sarah Wood, who finished 15-4 last season, and sophomore right-handed twirler Whitney Humphreys who went 8-1. The Ramblin' Wreck will be without ACC Pitcher of the Year and all-time strikeout leader Jessica Sallinger but have added freshmen Whitney Haller and Lacey Richardson.
Season Opener... Dating back to the 1977 campaign, the Tigers are 23-6 in season openers and have outscored opponents 132-64. In last season's outting, Missouri shutout Nicholls State, 6-0, at the Seminole Classic, setting the Tigers off on a seven game win streak that lasted until Feb. 19. Under the direction of Head Coach Ty Singleton, now entering his fourth year with the Tigers, Missouri is 3-0.
Home Run History... Redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner hit her first of 17 home runs last season in Missouri's season opener against Nicholls State, Feb. 11. The crush came in the sixth frame with two outs on the scoreboard. Minner's home run marked the first time in nine years that a Tiger hit a bomb in the season-opener. Mary Babb was the last Missouri player to open the campaign with a home run, Feb. 24, 1996 against St. Louis University.
Series Not a Tournament... Missouri's season opener against No. 24 Georgia Tech on Friday marks the ninth time in the history of the softball program that the Tigers have not opened action in a tournament. The last time Missouri played a season-opening series against only one team came Feb. 27, 2003, in a doubleheader against St. Louis. Missouri won both games, 20-0 and 13-1.
Ranking Well... The last time a Missouri softball team opened its season against a ranked opponent was in 2002 when the Tigers took on No. 24 San Diego State University at the San Diego Tournament, Feb. 8. Missouri won, 4-2. This year, the Tigers will face No. 24 Georgia Tech in a three-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. (CST).