Softball Team Opens Home Schedule Against Truman State
3/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 7, 2006
Missouri vs. Truman State University of Missouri (8-7) Truman State (3-2)
After finishing 3-1 at the Missouri State Spring Classic last weekend, the Missouri softball team (8-7) opens the home portion of its schedule Tuesday, March 7, in a doubleheader with Truman State beginning at 2 p.m. (CST) at University Field. Live statistics for both games will be available on GameTracker by visiting www.mutigers.com, with live audio provided for the 4 p.m. (CST) game through KCOU (88.1 FM). Fans interested in viewing the first two of Missouri's 19 home games this season can log onto www.mutigers.com and subscribe to the all-access service.
Missouri's two-game series with Truman State marks the first meeting between the two teams, although the Tigers have played four of the nine teams in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference and own a 26-10 record in the all-time series.
Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader kicks of an 11 game homestand for Missouri that pits the Tigers against teams from Truman State, Mississippi Valley State, Drake, Northern Iowa and Louisville.
Redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) enters the Tuesday doubleheader with a .356 batting average and .733 slugging percentage. 9-for-15 in Missouri's four game series at the Missouri State Spring Classic last weekend, Minner launched two home runs including her first career grand slam. To date, Minner has hit four homers this season and 21 in her two year Tiger career. Minner stands fifth in the Missouri career home run record book and is two blasts shy from trying Tiffany Heick, currently at No. 4 with 23 knocks.
Sophomore Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) and freshman Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) will likely see time in the circle against Truman State. Bruck has held opponents to a .226 batting average allowing only 22 earned runs off 60 hits. Bruck and Dennis together have struckout 63 batters and combined for two shutouts on the season (Tennessee Tech and Wichita State).
Fans attending Missouri's home opener will notice several improvements to University Field. Improvements and renovation include a new outfield fence, new bullpens, berm seating in the outfield, new location for the scoreboard, freshly painted dugouts, a new public address system and a new and improved playing surface for the Tiger softball team. For more information on the field, please visit www.mutigers.com and check out the feature story entitled "University Field Gets Facelift."
Looking Ahead: Missouri continues its homestand this weekend by playing host to the annual Tiger Invitational. Visiting teams include Mississippi Valley State and Drake. Missouri and Mississippi Valley State will open the tournament with a Friday, March 10 game at 4 p.m. (CST).
