Feb. 10, 2006
Atlanta, Ga. - The 18th-ranked Missouri softball team dropped its season-opener, 11-6, to No. 24 Georgia Tech at Glenn Field in Atlanta, Ga. The first game of a doubleheader against the Yellow Jackets, the Tigers gave up a six-run lead, allowing 11 runs off nine hits between the fifth and sixth innings. Missouri falls to 23-7 in season openers and 3-1 under Head Coach Ty Singleton.
The Tigers jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, when junior leadoff hitter Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) doubled to left field, followed by Missouri's first home run of the season by senior outfielder Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) over the centerfield fence.
Junior Amanda Jo White (Tallmadge, Ohio) added to Missouri's total in the second inning with the fifth home run of her career, a shot over the left center fence. In her first collegiate at bat, freshman Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) drew a walk sending the Tigers to the top of the lineup and Georgia Tech Head Coach Ehren Earleywine to his bullpen. Right-handed Whitney Humphreys came in for an ailing Sarah Wood but hit Bowers, sending her to first and Allen to second. Roening, two-for-four on the day, singled to right field loading the bases for redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas). Minner became the second Tiger hit by pitch, bringing home Allen for Missouri's fourth run. Sophomore Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) drove in Bowers from third with her one-out single to left center.
Missouri's sixth run came in the third frame when junior Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and White ripped back-to-back singles. After Allen lined out to second, outfielder Bowers came through with Missouri's 10th hit of the game to load the bases. Kennewell scored on a ground out by Roening for Missouri's final run of the game.
Georgia Tech began its rally in the in the fifth inning, scoring four runs off three hits and took the lead for the first time of the game in the sixth inning scoring seven runs off six hits.
Sophomore pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) made her 23rd career start in the circle, fanning four batters and hurling a four inning no hitter before allowing Georgia Tech nine hits.
Missouri will play game two of the doubleheader against Georgia Tech beginning at approximately 1:45 p.m. (CST).