March 5, 2006
Springfield, Mo. - The Missouri softball team improved to 7-7 after topping in-state opponent UMKC, 5-2, in their third game of the Missouri State Spring Classic at Missouri State Softball Field in Springfield, Mo. Missouri tallied nine hits in the game and held the Kangaroos to only three singles.
Missouri took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Wearing all black uniforms, junior leadoff hitter Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) drew a walk from freshman UMKC pitcher Emily Dye. Next at the plate, senior Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) tripled to right field, Missouri's third triple of the tournament, sending Bowers home for Missouri's first run of the game. With Roening on third, redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) crushed her fourth homer of the season to drive in two more Tiger runs. Minner is two home runs shy of tying Tiffany Heick who stands third on the Missouri Career Home Run Record book with 23.
Scoring on a wild pitch and throwing error, the UMKC Kangaroos pulled within one run in the top of the third inning. Missouri pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) struck out back-to-back batters before giving up a single to leadoff hitter Eryn Knecht and a single to right center by Sarah Allen. Both runners stole bags and advanced home on a wild pitch and throwing error by Missouri catcher Amanda Jo White (Tallmadge, Ohio). Bruck completed six innings in the circle, fanning six batters and forcing 10 groundouts. Freshman Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) entered the game in the seventh inning, struckout two batters and was credited with her first save of the season.
Designated player Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.) led off for Missouri in the top of the fifth inning. Henke reached first after being hit by pitch and took second on a single to shortstop by third baseman Gina Schneider (Liberty, Mo.) and third on a throwing error by UMKC second baseman Casie Wolf. After catcher Alyson Tobyne (Gilbert, Ariz.) grounded out, junior Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring Henke home and send Schneider to third. Hitting from the eight hole, freshman shortstop Andee Allen (Barnart, Mo.) tripled to left center sending Schneider home for Missouri's a 5-2 lead.
Missouri will play its final game of the Missouri Sate Spring Classic at 12:30 p.m. (CST) today against Saint Louis before returning to Columbia in preparation for their home opener at University Field against Truman State, Tuesday March 7, at 2 p.m. (CST). Game two of the doubleheader is slated for a 4 p.m. (CST) start.