Feb. 3, 2007

Opening the 2007 softball campaign with the annual Black and Gold game in the Dan Devine Pavilion, the gold team won, 6-2, with sophomore Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) credited with the win.

Senior Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) put the gold team ahead in the top of the first with a two run home run to center field. The two out shot drove in redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) who walked earlier in the inning. Hitting cleanup, Renth was 3-for-4 at the plate with a single, double and homerun. Renth led off the seventh inning with a double, scoring on a single by senior catcher Alyson Tobyne (Lakewood, Colo.)

Scoring one run on a wild pitch and threatening with runners on the corners, the black squad saw their best chance to take the lead in the bottom of the third. The threat ended when junior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) was caught stealing second for the final out.

In the circle, Dennis pitched six innings for the gold team, striking out three while only allowing two runs. Dennis also forced the black squad to ground out six times on the way to the victory.

The gold squad made the most of their 10 hits, scoring six times. Dennis was able to hold the black squad to five hits, with senior Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) and junior Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.) leading the way with two hits apiece.

The Tigers start regular season action on Friday, Feb. 9 in Baton Rouge, La. at the Easton Tiger Classic against Centenary College. The Tigers then return home Wednesday, Feb. 14 to square off against in state opponent UMKC in a doubleheader slated for a 1 p.m. (CT) start.