April 12, 2006
Columbia, Mo. - Adding one-and-a-half points to Missouri's total in the Midwest Border Showdown game with Kansas, the Tiger softball team (19-17, 3-4) snapped a six-game losing streak after shutting out the Jayhawks (21-20, 2-6), 4-0, at University Field. Missouri now trails Kansas by five-and-a-half points, 17.5-12 in the annual competition.
Battling for bragging rights, the Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) led off the inning and working an 0-2 count flied out to left field. Next up for Missouri, sophomore Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) singled to centerfield, also on an 0-2 count. For the 16th time this season, sophomore Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.) entered the game to pinch run. Senior outfielder Janessa Roening made her 98th plate appearance of the campaign, and laid down a bunt that rolled by KU second baseman Jessica Moppin. As Moppin scrambled for the ball, Roening reached first and Henke safely made her way to third. A successful at bat for catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.), Roening stole second later advancing to third while Henke ran home on Masterson's groundout to first base. Roening scored the Tiger's second run of the inning on a passed ball by Kansas catcher Erika Simington. Freshman Andee Allen's (Barnhart, Mo.) groundout to short brought the inning to an end.
Putting up two runs in the sixth frame sophomore pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) scored from second on a single through the right side by Minner. Leading her teammates with 37 hits, Minner scored on a bunted double by Masterson. The Tigers notched four hits in the inning to end the game with eight on the board.
Bruck threw her sixth complete game of the season and third one-hitter of 2006. On the day, Bruck hurled 97 pitches and shut down the side in four innings. The shutout was Missouri's fifth of the campaign.
Missouri will wrap up its two-game series with Kansas next Wednesday, April 19, at 5 p.m. (CST) in Lawrence. Prior to that game, the Tigers will host Big 12 South opponent Oklahoma State in a two-game series set for Friday, April 14 at 6 p.m. (CST) and Saturday, April 15 beginning at 2 p.m. (CST).