Missouri
Pacific
Tigers Drop Stanford Invitational Opener, 9-3, to Pacific
2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 16, 2007
Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri softball team fell to 4-4 on the season after suffering a 9-3 loss to Pacific in the Tiger's opening game of the Stanford Invitational at Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. Managing only three runs on seven hits, Missouri put up runs in the first, third and sixth inning, but was unable to overcome Pacific's six-run advantage. Tiger freshman Jana Hainey (Raymore, Mo.) made her fifth start of the season in the circle and was credited with the loss (1-3). Hainey hurled two innings of work and allowed five runs on five hits before being relieved by freshman righty Alaina Jacobson (Crocker, Mo.) to start the third.
The Tigers took their fourth first inning lead of the campaign on senior catcher Kathy Masterson's (St. Louis, Mo.) two out sacrifice fly to right field. Sophomore shortstop Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) reached first earlier in the inning by way of walk, advanced to second on redshirt junior Micaela Minner's (Sanger, Texas) first pitch single to left field and was awarded third when junior Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) reached base on balls. Masterson, 9-for-16 entering the game, offered up her first sacrifice fly of the season to send Allen running home.
Pacific tied the game at one in the bottom half of the first. Opening with a leadoff single up the middle, center fielder Gina Carbonatto scored on right fielder Jennifer Curtier's 1-1 double to left center. The Pacific Tigers took a 5-1 lead into the third inning after scoring four runs on three hits and one Missouri error in the bottom of the second.
Missouri's second home run of the season was crushed by Renth in the top of the third inning. Renth, Mizzou's cleanup hitter, went to the plate with one out on the board and launched a second pitch home run over the wall in left field. The home run was the 10th of her career.
The final Missouri run of the game was scored in the sixth inning. Junior designated player Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) led off with a single to center field, advanced to second on freshman pinch hitter Julie Silver's (Chesterfield, Mo.) single to left field and took third on a wild pitch from Pacific pitcher Alyce Jorgensen With two outs and Allen at the plate, Bruck scored on a throwing error by shortstop Lizzie Hagen that found Allen safe at first and Silver standing on second. With runners in scoring position, the inning came to an end after Minner was tagged out at second on a fielder's choice.
Missouri will resume action at the Stanford Invitational at 6 p.m. (CT) tonight against Santa Clara. Live stats are available on GameTracker at www.mutigers.com.
