Feb. 18, 2006
The 18th-ranked Missouri softball team (3-3) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Pacific (2-5) in their third game of the Worth Wildcat Invitational at the Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. Junior catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) came up with a three run homer in the sixth inning giving the Missouri Tigers the eventual win.
Pacific scored one run, unearned, in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull ahead. With two outs, seven- hole hitter Mandy Hickman reached first on a throwing error by junior shortstop Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) taking second on the throw by first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.). Hickman took third on a single by Brittany Hyams and ran home on a single to leftfield by Gina Carbonatto.
Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) helped Missouri to a two run lead in the sixth, crushing her first homer of the season over the centerfield fence. A clutch two-out hit, Masterson drove in three runs. Sophomore outfielder Sara Simons (Kearney, Mo.) led off the inning with a single up the middle advancing to second after Renth struck out and sophomore pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) was hit by a pitch from Kristen Allen. Junior third baseman Amanda Jo White (Tallmadge, Ohio) reached first on a fielder's choice that sent Bruck back to the dugout and Simons to third. Masterson, who entered the game 1-for-3 in tournament play, crushed her seventh career home run.
The Tigers of Pacific pulled within one run in the bottom of the seventh. Lizzie Hagen tripled to centerfield and scored on Lauren Weyman's ground ball to Missouri second baseman Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.).
Missouri out hit Pacific, 10-7, and right-handed Bruck improved to 3-2 on the season while striking out seven batters in her second complete game of the season.
Up next, the Tigers will take on Big 12 opponent Texas Tech in a 1 p.m. (CST) game. Tomorrow marks the third and final day of the Worth Wildcat Invitational and Missouri will play Tennessee Tech beginning at 11 a.m. (CST).