Missouri
Centenary College
Missouri Softball Team Opens Season With 8-1 Win
2/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 9, 2007
Baton Rouge, La. - Opening the 2007 campaign at the Easton Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge, La., the Missouri softball team (1-0) held off Centenary College (0-2), 8-1, in the second game of the tournament held in Tiger Park. Missouri freshman Alaina Jacobson (Crocker, Mo.) was credited with her first collegiate win, twirling two innings of work and allowing only one run on two hits. The victory is Missouri's 24th season opening win in 33 years of competition.
Scoreless through three-and-a-half innings the Ladies took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth after Tiger freshman Jana Hainey (Raymore, Mo.) gave up a leadoff double to left field. Centenary runner Haley Bassett advanced to third on a ground out and scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch.
Quick to answer, the Tigers came up with a run in the bottom of the inning creating a clean slate. Redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) led off the inning with a double to left center on a 1-2 count. 2-for-2 on the day, Minner took third on a fly ball by junior first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.), scoring on junior designated player Jen Bruck's (St. Peters, Mo.) fly out to right field.
The Tigers took the 2-1 lead in the fifth inning after senior catcher Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) reached first on a one out double to right center. The third of four Missouri doubles in the game, Masterson advanced home on sophomore shortstop Andee Allen's (Barnhart, Mo.) shot to the hole in right center. Returning to the top of the lineup, senior outfielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) singled to left center and took third on the throw, while Allen was forced out at the plate on the throw from centerfielder Lauren Flowers. The inning came to an end after senior second baseman Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) sent a fly ball to right field.
Missouri exploded with six runs on three hits and one Centenary error in the bottom of the sixth inning. With a full count on the board, leadoff batter Minner was awarded first base after being hit by pitch. Renth, next to the plate, took first on a fielder's choice that resulted in Minner being tagged out at second. Pinch running for Renth, junior Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.) reached second on Bruck's groundout to pitcher Ryan Thacker and scored on junior Sara Simons' (Kearney, Mo.) double down the left field line. The Tigers forced two pitching changes in the inning, but neither of the Centenary Ladies were able to contain Missouri's offense.
Taking the circle for the final two innings of work, sophomore Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) forced 15 strikes in 21 pitches, striking out three of the six batters she faced.
In all, five Tigers combined for nine hits in the game, including Masterson's third inning lead off triple, the sixth of her career.
The Tigers will take on Middle Tennessee at 8:05 p.m. (CT) in their second game of the day. This marks the first meeting between the two schools. Live stats are available on the LSU athletics website
