Feb. 11, 2006
Atlanta, Ga. - The No. 18 Missouri softball team shutdown No. 24 Georgia Tech, 9-3, to take two games of the three-game series on Glenn Field in Atlanta, Ga. Missouri closed out the two-day series with seven home runs, including senior Janessa Roening's (Port Angeles, Wash.) fourth inning three-run blast in this afternoon's game.
Georgia Tech was first to get on the board, scoring one run off two hits in the bottom of the first. The Tigers took advantage of a struggling Georgia Tech defense in the second inning, scoring three runs, two earned, for the 3-1 lead. Sophomore Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) led off with a double to right field, her first of the season and 13th of her young career. Sophomore Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.) entered the game to pinch run for Renth and took third on a one-out single by junior shortstop Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.). Junior catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) laid down a sac bunt to bring home Henke and advanced to first on the fielder's choice. True freshman Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) offered up a sacrifice fly to right field, sending Kennewell home from third. Masterson scored on an error by Georgia Tech centerfielder Kacey Ivey that sent nine-hole hitter senior Joanne Loethen (St. Thomas, Mo.) to first. Loethen was caught stealing second bringing the inning to an close.
Junior Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) helped the Tigers to a 4-1 lead in the third inning. After reaching first on an error by Yellow Jacket third baseman Blair Shimandle, Bowers stole second, her second swipe of the season, and scored on a singe up the middle by Renth. Renth was 7-for-10 in the three game series with a 1.400 slugging percentage, .727 on-base percentage and six RBI.
The Tigers scored five runs in the fourth inning. Crushing her second home run of the three-game series, outfielder Roening launched a two-out homer that scored three runs in the fourth inning.
Right-handed pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) hurled five complete innings in her 24th career start, improving to 2-1 on the season. Bruck fanned three batters and gave up two earned runs off four hits. True freshman Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) entered the game in the sixth inning and gave up one run
Next up for the Tigers, Missouri will travel to Tucson, Ariz., for the three-day Worth Wildcat Tournament beginning Friday, Feb. 17. Missouri will take on No. 5 Arizona, North Carolina State, Big 12 opponent Texas Tech and Tennessee Tech.