March 27, 2006
Las Vegas - Playing for the first time since the 2001 season, Missouri (18-11) snapped a five game losing streak to the UNLV Rebels (13-22) after winning game one of a doubleheader, 6-4, at Jim Rogers Field. Two run home runs by redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) and senior Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) helped the Tigers to their eventual victory.
For the third straight game and 16th of the season, the Tigers scored first. With two outs on the board, cleanup hitter Minner crushed a two-run homer deep over the fence in centerfield. The blast was her seventh of the season and 24th of her career moving her to second alongside former Tiger's Barb Wright and Heather Kunkel in the Missouri career home run record book. Minner is just three home runs shy of setting a new Missouri record. 1997 graduate Mary Babb holds the current record at 26.
The Tigers added two runs in the fourth frame after Minner and pinch runner Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.) scored. Minner led off the inning with a single to centerfield, advancing to third on a fielding error by Rebel centerfielder Brittany Freight. Next at the plate, designated player Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) reached first on an error by shortstop Maggie Livreri, sending Minner home. Henke entered the game to run for Renth and scored on a single by Missouri shortstop Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.).
Minner finished game one 3-for-4 at the plate scoring two runs and notching two RBI.
UNLV came within one run of the Tigers in the bottom of the fifth inning. Scoring three runs on four hits and one Tiger error, Bruck was relieved by freshman righty Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) after hurling four and two-thirds innings of work. Bruck struckout five, forced four groundouts allowed only three runs, two earned and faced 20 batters. The win gives Bruck at 16-8 record.
Adding to Missouri's lead, senior outfielder Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) hit her fourth home run of the season, a two out, two-run shot over the fence in left center.
The Rebels added their final run in the bottom of the seventh inning off two hits and one error.
Game two against the Rebels will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. (CST).