Feb. 14, 2006
Columbia, Mo. - Missouri softball first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) was named Co-Big 12 Player of the Week today as announced by the League office. Renth, along with Nebraska outfielder Lizzy Aumua are this season's first recipients of the weekly award, while Texas lefty Cat Osterman was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week.
Renth's first Big 12 Player of the Week nod, this marks the earliest point in the season that a Missouri softball player has been recognized as the conference's Player of the Week. Former Mizzou pitcher Stephanie Falk was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week as early as Feb. 16, during the 1998 campaign.
Playing all three games in Missouri's season-opening series against No. 24 Georgia Tech, Renth was 7-for-10 at the plate, launching two home runs in the Tiger's second game against the Yellow Jackets Feb. 10. Renth's two-out homer in the first inning of game two helped the Tigers jump to an early 2-0 lead, with her sixth inning shot securing a 3-0 advantage.
As a team, Missouri tallied seven home runs on the weekend. Renth was one of two Missouri players with two homers on the weekend and the only Tiger to record two in a single game. The last time a Missouri softball player hit two home runs in a single game against a ranked opponent was May 4, 1997 when Mary Babb, Missouri's career home run leader, crushed two against No. 20 Oklahoma State at the Big 12 Championships. Leading off for the Tigers in the second inning of game three, Renth ripped a double to right field, her first of the season and 13th of her career.
Renth has six RBI and holds the team's highest batting average (.700), slugging percentage (1.400), on-base percentage (.727), hits (seven), total bases (14) and putouts (14).
Several of Renth's stats stand among the top five in Big 12 Conference. Renth leads the league with her 1.400 slugging percentage and .727 on-base percentage and is tied for second with two home runs and RBI (six). Renth is also tied for third in the league with seven hits.
The No. 18 Tigers will travel to Tucson, Ariz., for the Worth Wildcat Tournament beginning Friday, Feb. 17, at the Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium. Missouri will open the three-day tournament against No. 3 Arizona Friday night at 7 (CST).