May 19, 2007
Carbondale, Ill. -The 19th-ranked Missouri softball team (39-23) suffered its first loss of the NCAA Softball Regional in Carbondale, Ill., dropping a 2-0 contest to 14th-ranked DePaul (43-11) in the first of three Saturday games played on Charlotte West Stadium. Because of the loss, Missouri is forced to play an additional afternoon game against the winner of the 2:30 p.m. (CT) competition pitting Mississippi Valley State against host school Southern Illinois.
DePaul broke up the five inning scoreless game managing two runs on three hits in the top of the sixth frame. Taking advantage of two Missouri miscues, the Blue Demons' nine-hole hitter, Shea Warren, was first to score with first baseman Marcy Wilus next across the plate. Both runs came across unearned.
Tiger leadoff batter Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) ended senior DePaul ace Tracie Adix's two inning no-hitter with a double, one of only two extra base hits on the day, in the bottom of the third inning. Missouri's first scoring threat of the game, Stringer was stranded on second on a quick groundout to third base. The Tigers ended the day leaving four runners on base.
Missouri junior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) pitched her way out of a dangerous DePaul fourth inning showing. Allowing Amber Patton the Blue Demons' first hit of the game, a single up the middle, Bruck made a throwing error to first to award Wilus first and give Patton time to advance to third. Wilus ran to second on a wild pitch, but both runners were left on base as Bruck forced back-to-back outs with a flyout to shortstop Andee Allen (Windsor, Mo.) and her first of two strikeouts on the game.
Bruck (21-10) was credited with the loss, while Adix's improved to 19-2 on the season.
All-region honoree Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) gave Missouri its final chance to score, crushing a double, her 16th of the season, in the bottom of the seventh inning. The inning and game came to an end on a groundout and pop ball.
Of Missouri's four hits on the day, three came with two outs on the board. Missouri's three errors was the most it's made in nine games.