Oct. 24, 2007

Columbia, Mo. - Twenty-six former Missouri softball players from as far away as Pittsburgh returned to Columbia, Mo., for a weekend reunion that wrapped with a five-inning game on University Field Saturday, Oct. 22.

The festivities began with a Friday night social at T.K. Brothers and continued with a Saturday morning tour of the Mizzou Athletics Training Complex. After viewing the state-of-the-art facility, both alumni and current student-athletes made their way to University Field where lunch was served and alumni had the opportunity to take in the latest renovations made to the softball complex.

Following lunch and tailgating, the group of Tigers made their way to Faurot Field for the Homecoming game in which Missouri toppled Texas Tech, 41-10.

The alumni softball game began at 7 p.m. with 22 alums participating. Each former player was announced prior to the start of the game, along with the years in which she competed for the Tigers. Taking a three-run lead in the first inning, Linda Swarts (1997-2000) hit a solo home run to tack on an additional run and give the alumni a 4-1 lead. In the end, the current Missouri softball players came back late in the game, scoring nine runs in the later innings for a final score of 10-4.

Earning "Senior Returner" honors was Mary French Calder a graduate of the class of 1977.

Receiving both a positive turnout and response, the Tiger softball staff plans to continue the annual alumni game and hope to eventually add further activities to the weekend.