The Tigers will take on SEMO Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (CST)The Tigers will take on SEMO Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (CST)
Softball

Tiger Softball Team Plays in Annual Coaches Against Cancer Tournament

March 3, 2006

Wrapping up a busy week of travel, the Missouri softball team will compete in the fifth annual Coaches Against Cancer tournament held at Missouri State in Springfield, Mo., beginning Friday, March 3. One of five in-state schools competing in the three-day tournament, the Tigers own all five of the past tournament titles and open the 2006 competition with a 6:30 p.m. (CST) game against Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) at the Missouri State Softball Field.

Over the past 31 years, the Missouri softball team has built up a combined 138-16 all-time record against SEMO, Missouri State, UMKC and St. Louis, or a 90% winning percentage. Missouri holds the most meetings with St. Louis University, 49, dating back to the first season of Tiger softball, 1977. Since the Tiger's first 8-3 victory over the Bilikins, Missouri has claimed 46 additional wins and lost only two games, both by one run in 2002, (5-4 and 6-5).

Last year's Coaches Against Cancer Tournament, held in Kansas City, Mo., and hosted by UMKC, saw Missouri dominate the three teams in competition. The Tigers outscored SEMO, UMKC and Missouri State 33-2, shutting out SEMO, Missouri State and UMKC in consecutive games before allowing two runs to SEMO in the championship game.

Coming off of a 1-0 win over Wichita State Wednesday afternoon, the Tigers look to reach .500 with Friday night's game against SEMO. Sophomore righty Jen Bruck (5-4) will likely return to the circle for her ninth start of the season. Bruck has struckout 33 batters in 49.2 innings of work, allowing opponents only a .217 batting average.

Senior outfielder Janessa Roening leads her teammates with a .333 batting average. Roening is 11-for-33 at the plate with three doubles, five less than her total accumulated in her first season (2005) in a Missouri jersey.

Following the completion of Missouri's Sunday 12:30 p.m. (CST) game against St. Louis, the Tigers will return to Columbia and begin preparing for their home opener, a doubleheader Tuesday, March 7, against Truman State. Game one is set for a 2 p.m. (CST) start, with game two slated to begin at 4 p.m. Both games will be available on GameTracker and can be viewed on the Missouri website by purchasing an All-Access package. The 4 p.m. game can be heard on KCOU, or 88.1 FM in Columbia, Mo.