Feb. 19, 2006
Columbia, Mo. - The 18th-ranked Missouri softball team (4-4) closed out the Worth Wildcat Invitational with a 4-0 victory by forfeit over Tennessee Tech (3-4) today at Rita Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. Tennessee Tech was forced to forfeit the one hour and 30 minute game due to travel constraints, giving Missouri the win.
The Tigers jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) crushed her second home run of the season over the left field wall. The blast sent senior outfielder Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.), who reached first after singling to right field one at-bat earlier, around the bases for Missouri's first run of the game. Minner currently stands alone at No. 5 in the Missouri career home run record book with 19 homers. Mary Babb holds the No. 1 spot with 26 home runs between 1994 and 1997.
Missouri added two runs in the fifth inning to increase its lead over Tennessee Tech. Freshman second baseman Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) singled to lead off the inning and stole second. Returning to the top of the order, junior outfielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) walked and two-hole hitter Roening singled to centerfield, advancing to second on the throw and sending Bowers to third and Allen home. Minner doubled to left field driving in Bowers for Missouri's fourth run.
Sohomore pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo,) was credited with the win and improves to 4-2 on the season.
Up next for the 18th-ranked Tigers, Missouri will travel to Columbus, Ga., for the NFCA Leadoff Classic beginning Friday, Feb. 24. Missouri has the possibility to play five games, and will open against North Carolina in an 11 a.m. (CST) contest.