May 12, 2007
Columbia, Mo. - The 18th-ranked Missouri softball team (38-22) saw its run at a Big 12 Championship title come to an end after falling, 7-1, to No. 2 Oklahoma (51-6) in the semi-final game of the 12th annual Big 12 tournament at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. Outhit, 10-2, Missouri's two hits came off the bat of freshman Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) with the lone run scored by Silver in the top of the sixth inning.
Oklahoma's top-ranked offense came up with four runs, only one earned, in the bottom of the second inning. Managing four hits off of junior pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.), Missouri's defense made two errors giving the Sooners a four-run advantage.
The Sooners tacked on three runs in the bottom fifth including back-to-back home runs off of freshman pitcher Jana Hainey (Raymore, Mo.). Bruck, who threw two innings of work, fell to 20-9 on the season, gave up five hits and was credited with a wild pitch. Hainey entered the game in the third inning, threw three innings and struck out three Sooner batters before being relieved by sophomore Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.). Dennis twirled only one inning of play, but struck out one and forced two fly outs. Oklahoma's Lauren Eckerman (33-3) was credited with the win.
Missouri's only run of the game came in the top of the sixth frame. With one out on the board, two-hole hitter Silver tripled to right center, her first triple of the year, and scored on redshirt junior Amanda Renth's (Mascoutah, Ill.) sacrifice fly to centerfield. Earlier in the game, Silver laid down Missouri's first single of the game, a bunt back to pitcher Eckerman.
The Missouri softball team will host an NCAA Regional selection watch show Sunday, May 13, beginning at 2 p.m. (CT) at T.K. Brothers restaurant in Columbia, Mo. Located at 1412 Forum Boulevard, all media and fans are invited and encouraged to attend.