Oct. 9, 2007
Columbia, Mo. - Taking on a Crowder softball team that has faced a fierce fall schedule, the Missouri Tigers split a two-game series with the `Riders Saturday afternoon on University Field. Missouri took game one, 2-1, but fell two runs shorts of a win in game two, falling to Crowder, 2-1 in extra innings.
Junior transfer Stacy Delaney threw game one for Missouri striking out 14 batters and allowing only two hits. A stable force in the circle, the Freeland, Mich., native has three pitches she can throw for strikes in any count.
"Two Saturday's ago, her rise ball was her `out pitch'," Head Coach Ehren Earleywine said. "This past Saturday her drop ball was the one no one could touch. With Delaney in the circle, it's much harder as a hitter to anticipate or sit on certain pitches in certain counts."
Missouri's right-handed ace Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) tossed game two for the Tigers. Holding the `Riders to only one run through six innings, Bruck made a throwing error to first base in the top of the seventh allowing the game-tying run to score.
International tie breaker (ITB) rules were put in effect in the ninth inning and Crowder scored the game-winning run after bunting a runner to third and offering a sacrifice fly to drive in the run.
Offensively, Missouri struggled at the plate in both games. Scattering a few balls, the Tigers were unable to string a series of hits together.
"Crowder has a very good junior college team and deserves credit for playing well," Earleywine said. "We were able to identify some parts of our game that need to be addressed and worked on immediately. It serves as a reminder to all of us that you have to be prepared and in the now. If not, this game will humble you every time."
Missouri will close the fall portion of its schedule Saturday, Oct. 13 in back-to-back games against Johnson County Community College at noon followed by a 2 p.m. (CT) game against North Central Community College. Both games will be played on University Field and are open to the public. Fans are encouraged to bring a canned food item to the game to donate to the Central Missouri Food Bank.