March 10, 2007
Tempe, Ariz. - Twenty-four hours removed from yesterday's 10-inning victory over the 11th-ranked Washington Huskies (17-3), the Missouri softball team (17-11) suffered a 5-1 loss to Washington in their third game of the Pac 10/Big 12 Showdown at Farrington Stadium on the campus of Arizona State.
Held scoreless through six innings, Missouri put up its lone run in the top of the seventh frame. Leading off for the Tigers, redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) opened with a single to center field, advancing to second after senior Alyson Tobyne Lakewood, Colo.) reached first base on balls. After back-to-back outs, Washington pitcher Caitlin Noble threw a wild pitch that sent both Minner and Tobyne running to their next base. Junior Sara Simons (Kearney, Mo.) was next to the plate and also reached base on balls (Noble's only two walks of the game), bringing up senior Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) who singled to third base allowing Minner to score.
The Tigers were held to only five hits on the day, allowing the Huskies five runs on six hits and one Tiger error. Junior Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) was the only Tiger to manage two hits off Noble. Renth was 2-for-4 against the Huskie, hitting a two out single in the first inning and a leadoff single to right center in the fourth.
Missouri pitcher Alaina Jacobson (Crocker, Mo.),2-3, was credited with the loss after throwing six innings of work and allowing three earned runs on six hits.
Missouri will play its fourth game of the tournament against host school No. 3 Arizona State beginning at 8:30 p.m. (CT).
PLEASE NOTE: There was a scoring error in yesterday's game with Washington. While it was previously released that Jana Hainey was credited with the win, it was in fact sophomore Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) who improved to 6-2 on the season after throwing the final four innings of action. Hainey remains at 3-5 on the season.