March 3, 2006
Springfield, Mo. - Playing game one of the Missouri State Spring Classic, the Missouri softball team (6-6) shut down instate opponent SEMO (2-3), 7-1, at the Missouri State Softball Field in Springfield, Mo. The Tigers tallied 10 hits, tying their second highest total on the season and sophomore ace Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) improved to 6-4 on the season after fanning three batters and forcing seven groundouts in four innings of work.
Scoreless through two innings, the Tigers jumped to a 6-0 lead in the top of the third, scoring six runs off five hits. Batting leadoff, nine hole hitter junior Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) drew a walk to reach first and advanced to second on a single to centerfield by junior outfielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.). Senior right fielder Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) flew out to left field sending Stringer to third and Bowers to second. Redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas), 2-for-4 in the game, singled to center sending Stringer and Bowers home for the first two Tiger runs. In her second plate appearance of the night, Bruck singled down the left field line advancing to second on the throw while Minner ran to third. The Tigers continued to light up SEMO pitcher Stephanie Huffman as MU first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) came through with a single to left field, taking second on the throw while Minner and Bruck scored Missouri's third and fourth runs. Catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) blasted Missouri's first triple of the season and fourth consecutive hit of the inning, a crush to right center that sent Renth home for run number five.
SEMO Head Coach Lana Richmond went to her bullpen following Masterson's knock to the outfield. Right-handed pitcher Jessica Rosencrants entered the game but was slow to contain the powerful Missouri offense. Missouri third baseman Amanda Jo White (Tallmadge, Ohio) offered up a sacrifice fly to left field driving in Masterson from third for the Tiger's sixth and final run of the inning. The inning came to a close after freshman second baseman Andee Allen (Liberty, Mo.) grounded out to third.
Freshman Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) made her 10th appearance in the circle after entering the game in the fifth inning. Dennis struckout four Redhawks in three innings but allowed SEMO's only run of the game, a home run in the top of the seventh by leadoff hitter Michelle Summers.
Allen scored Missouri's seventh run in the sixth inning after Roening singled to SEMO shortstop Stephanie Mata. Allen led off the inning with a single to left field advancing to third on Stringer's first double of the season. Returning to the top of the order, Bowers grounded out bringing Roening to the plate.
Missouri will play its second game of the three-day tournament against host school Missouri State Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (CST).