Feb. 28, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - Coming off of a weekend in which the Missouri softball team (4-6) suffered back-to-back losses at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, the Tigers will play their first mid-week game of the season Wednesday, March 1, at 3:30 p.m. (CST) against Wichita State at Wilkins Stadium.

Marking the 13th meeting between the two teams, Missouri holds a 10-2 lead in the all-time series. In their last two-game series, the Tigers and Shockers split victories, with Missouri winning the early game 6-0 and Wichita State taking the 1-0 night win, March 23, 1999.

Missouri senior Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) is likely to make her 11th start of the season in the outfield. Roening hold a .333 batting average and leads the team with 10 hits, three of which went down as doubles. Sophomore Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) looks to improve on her 4-4 record with a win over the Shockers. In her eight appearances in the circle, Bruck has fanned 30 batters in 42.2 innings of work.

The Shockers, 9-4 on the season, are led by first year Head Coach Mike Perniciaro and hold two wins over Big 12 opponents this season including a 5-2 victory over No. 18 Baylor, Feb. 12, in Waco, Texas at the Getterman Classic. Ashley Lynn and Britnee Barnett lead their teammates with a .317 batting average. Lynn, the team's starting right fielder, is 13-for-41 on the season with five doubles, six runs and six RBI. Barnett, 13-for-41 with one double, one triple and two home runs, is also a key member of the Shocker pitching rotation. Barnett is 4-2 on the season and has started six games, striking out 28 batters and allowing only a .2323 batting average.

Following the Wednesday afternoon game against Wichita State, the Tigers will travel to Springfield, Missouri for the Coaches Against Cancer tournament beginning Friday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. (CST).