April 26, 2006
Ames. Iowa - Entering the doubleheader tied for seventh in the Big 12 Conference standings, the Missouri softball team (21-23, 5-9) split the afternoon doubleheader with Iowa State (23-23, 5-9), after dropping game two, 3-2.
Unlike game one, the Tigers were first to put a run on the scoreboard. Hitting from the three hole, redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) knocked a two-out single up the middle, advancing home on a standup double by cleanup hitter Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.).
Iowa State came back in the bottom of the second to even the game, but the Tigers regained their lead in the third when junior second baseman Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) scored on a fielder's choice. Earlier in the inning, Stringer led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on junior outfielder Leanne Bower's (Arnold, Mo.) single to center. Next at the plate was senior outfielder Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.). Reaching first on a fielder's choice, Bowers was tagged out at second, allowing Stringer time to advance home for Missouri's only run of the inning.
Cyclone third baseman Kristy Olsen scored both the game tying and go-ahead run for Iowa State. In the third, Olsen advanced home from first base on a double by Ashley Killeen and in the fifth she ran home from second on a standup triple to right field by leftfielder Katie Reichling.
Bruck finished the game 3-for-3 hitting doubles in all three at bats. On the day, Bruck was 6-for-6 hitting a game one, second inning leadoff home run to move to third in the Missouri career home run record book (24).
In the circle, Bruck improved to 19-16 on the season, striking out eight Cyclone batters in 13 innings of work.
Missouri returns home for its final home series of the season, a two-game league matchup with Texas Tech beginning Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m. (CST).