Feb. 24, 2007
Fayetteville, Ark. - The Missouri softball team (11-6) improved to 3-0 at the Clarion Inn Lady'Back Tournament in Fayetteville, Ark., after besting host school Arkansas (5-8), 6-3. Down one run to the Lady Razorbacks, Missouri rallied in the sixth, scoring three runs to take the lead and eventual win. Sophomore pitcher Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) was credited with the win, while junior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) earned her first save of the season.
The Tigers took an early 2-0 lead on junior Amanda Renth's (Mascoutah, Ill.) two out, first inning homer over the wall in centerfield. Renth, who finished yesterday's game against Colorado State with a three run home run over the left field wall, has now crushed three bombs on the season and owns 12 in her three year career as a Tiger. Renth is two home runs away from joining the Missouri career home run top-10 list. Senior Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) began the game with a standup double to left field, advancing home on Renth's yard ball.
Freshman pitcher Jana Hainey (Raymore, Mo.) twirled 3.1 innings for Missouri and allowed Arkansas its first run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Leading off for the Lady Razorbacks, Kayla Johnson managed an infield single when the ball fell between Tiger first baseman Renth and third baseman junior Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.). With the wind picking up, and one out on the board, shortstop Dayna Huckabee hit a standup double to left field that sent Johnson home. Missouri's Dennis entered the game in relief in the fourth, but gave up a double to Jessica Bachkora that brought across the game-tying run. Arkansas pulled ahead on a wild pitch that sent Bachkora home from second.
Missouri rallied in the top of the sixth to pull ahead, 5-3. Scoring three runs on four hits, Kennewell was the first to connect on a pitch from Katy Henry (4-4), singling to right center and advancing to second on sophomore second baseman Sarah Stringer's (Auxvasse, Mo.) single to right center. Freshman Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) laid down a bunt to load the bases for Bowers who offered up her first sacrifice fly of the season that sent Kennewell home. With the bases once again loaded, sophomore shortstop Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) ripped a two out single to centerfield, allowing two Missouri runners to score.
Arkansas went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the sixth with Bruck in the circle. Bruck forced a 6-3 groundout, struck out the seven-hole hitter and forced a 5-3 groundout to end the inning. Bruck allowed only one hit in two innings of work, striking out two batters and ending the game on a ground out to third base.
Pinch runner Michaele Vock (Morrison, Ill.) scored Missouri's final run of the game in the top of the seventh inning. Running for Renth, who led the inning with a single to left field, Vock took second on a groundout and scored on a fielding error by second baseman Johnson.
The Tigers will take on Wichita State in the final game of the day. Slated for a 9 p.m. (CT) start, Missouri's meeting with the Shockers will be the first of three this season.