March 3, 2007
Tucson, Ariz.- - The Missouri Tiger Softball team (14-7) lost to the defending national champion, and second ranked Arizona Wildcats (12-3) 5-4 with Taryne Mowatt earning the win for Arizona. Mowatt pitched seven innings striking out 10 while only allowing five hits. The game was the first of three scheduled meetings this weekend. Junior catcher Callisata Balko broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk of single to earn the Wildcats the victory.
Coming in on an eight game winning streak, and a title at the Clarion Inn Layback Invitational last weekend, the Tigers got a big performance from junior Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.). Renth put the Tigers ahead in the in the top of the third with the first of her two homeruns. The three-run blast scored teammates Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) and Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.). Renth tallied all four RBI's for the Tigers giving her a team leading 23 on the season.
Pitching for the Tigers tonight, junior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) gave up eight hits, five runs and struck out five Wildcat batters. Bruck also went 1-2 at the plate registering two walks.
Led by senior Chelsea Mesa, the Wildcats took an early lead over the Tigers when Mesa hit a solo shot in the bottom of the second inning. Mesa went 2-4 at the plate and tallied two RBI, but it was junior catcher Balko's clutch hit that sealed the deal for the Wildcats.
The game featured two ties, two lead changes and three home runs, two if which were hit by Renth.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 7-1 all time against the Tigers. The Wildcats blanked the Tigers 4-0 last season at the Worth Wildcat Invitational. The two teams will square off again tomorrow at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday at 11 a.m.