April 6, 2007
Stillwater, Okla. - Improving to 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 2004, the Missouri softball team (28-17, 4-0) held off Oklahoma State (24-21, 2-4), 2-1, at Cowgirl Stadium while playing in 40 degree weather.
Junior right-handed batter Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) ended Jessica Hoppock's two inning no hitter with her fourth home run of the season. Crushing the ball just fair over the right field fence (190), Bruck's round-tripper was the 30th of her career and puts her just one knock shy of tying teammate Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) for the Missouri career home run record (31).
Entering the top of the fourth tied at one, OSU shortstop Krystle Sanchez hit an RBI single to send Shanel Scott home from second, Missouri junior Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) blasted the ball deep over the center field wall (218) for the Tiger's second run and her 13th homer of the season. Renth, recently named an Amateur Softball Association (ASA) USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year top-25 finalist, has recorded three of her last five hits by home run.
In the circle, Bruck struck out a career high 10 batters. Bruck's previous high stood at nine, a feat she accomplished on two occasions in her three years as a Tiger. Bruck finished the day having thrown her fourth straight complete game and seventh on the year. To date, Bruck has fanned 85 batters.
The Tigers managed only five hits on the day, with shortstop Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) connecting on the only other extra base hit, a two out double to left field in the bottom of the fifth.
The Tigers and Cowgirls will wrap up the second game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. (CT).