Missouri
Wichita State
Tigers Claim Clarion Inn Lady'Back Invitational Title
2/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Taking on second-seeded Wichita State (6-11) in the championship game of the Clarion Inn Lady'Back Invitational, the Missouri softball team (14-6) claimed its first tournament title of the season after holding off the Shockers, 10-7, in Lady'Back Park in Fayetteville, Ark. Between Missouri's two games on the day, the Tigers tallied 22 runs on 26 hits.
The Tigers wasted no time in erasing Wichita State's one-run lead, scoring two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) laid down a bunt to open the inning, stole second and scored on junior Amanda Renth's (Mascoutah, Ill.) single down the left field line. After junior designated player Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) struck out swinging for the first time in nine at bats, redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) doubled to right field to drive in the go-ahead run.
Missouri cycled through its lineup in the third inning, scoring six runs on five hits -- including back-to-back doubles by Renth and Bruck and a two-out double by freshman Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.). Silver's double cleared the bases giving her six RBI on the season. On the weekend, Silver was 7-for-12 at the plate, with three doubles and four runs.
Minner crushed two home runs in the three-day tournament, the second coming in the fourth inning of the Tigers' morning game against Wichita State. The two-run crush was Minner's 29th of her career and sets a new Missouri career homer record.
Wichita State scored four runs in the fifth inning to cut Missouri's lead to three.
Three pitchers took turns in the circle for Missouri with freshman Alaina Jacobson claiming the win (2-1).
The Missouri softball team will return to University Field to host a mid-week game Wednesday against Evansville at 2 p.m. (CT). Mizzou then travels to Tucson, Ariz., for a three-game series with the Arizona Wildcats.
