March 18, 2006
Columbia, Mo. - The second softball game of the day between Missouri and No. 21 Louisville resulted in a 7-6 loss that drops the Tiger's to 15-10 on the season and helps the Cardinals to a 16-2 record. The two hour and 19 minute game saw three lead changes and was Missouri's second one run loss of the season.
Jumping to an early lead, Louisville scored first putting up two runs in the first frame. The Tigers came back in the bottom of the inning on a two-out double down the right field line by redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas). Earlier in the inning, Missouri's first two hitters struckout swinging to bring up designated player Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.), 3-for-5 on the day, who singled to left field bringing up Minner.
The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Leading off for Missouri, first baseman Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) singled up the middle and seven-hole hitter catcher Alyson Tobyne (Gilbert, Ariz.) walked. Freshman shortstop Andee Allen (Bartnhart, Mo.) singled to centerfield sending Kennewell running home from second.
Scoring one run on one hit in the bottom of the third, Bruck led off with a standup double to right center. Minner grounded out and Louisville Head Coach Sandy Pearsall called in designated player Kassie Stanfill to pitch in relief of Kady Garrick. Junior Amanda Jo White (Tallmadge, Ohio) offered up a sacrifice fly to centerfield driving in Bruck from second for the one-run lead. The inning came to an end on a groundout to first base.
Louisville scored two runs in the top of the fourth for the second lead change of the game. Freshman pitcher Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) gave up two hits to the Cardinals. Dennis hurled the first four innings, was relieved by Masterson and reentered the game seventh. Dennis gave up four runs on five hits and struckout one from her time in the circle
Making things interesting, the Tigers tied the game at four, scoring a single run in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.), pinch ran for Tobyne and scored from third on a single down the left field line by freshman Gina Schneider (Liberty, Mo.).
Both teams scored one run in the fifth, with White crushing her second homer of the season over the wall in centerfield. After giving up the bomb, Stanfill was relieved by Catherine Bishop, Louisville's starting pitcher from game one.
Catcher No. 13 Lacy Wood drove in Louisville's final two runs of the game with her home run over the left field wall off of right-handed Masterson.
Missouri's third game of the series will begin Sunday, March 19, at Noon on University Field.