Missouri
Southern Illinois
Missouri Drops One-Run Game to No. 19 Southern Illinois
3/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 21, 2007
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Scoreless through six-and-a-half innings, the Missouri softball team (22-17) suffered a one run loss, 1-0, to No. 19 Southern Illinois (23-6) at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. This marks Missouri's first game of the season in which they were held hitless.
Junior ace Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) made her 12th start of the season in the circle, striking out five Saluki batters in her third complete game of the season. Bruck and SIU starter Cassie Scoggins created a pitcher's dual, with Bruck allowing the first hit, a single through the left side, in the third inning. Missouri's defense helped shutdown Southern Illinois, with Tiger third baseman Amanda Jo White (Tallmadge, Ohio) in on six of the 11 groundouts and Bruck striking out the side in the fourth inning.
Southern Illinois led off the seventh on catcher Jayme Wamsley's single up the middle. Advancing to second on a bunt, pinch runner Katie Schmidt scored the only run of the game on a double to left field by designated player Amanda Clifton.
Missouri's only scoring threat came in the top of the seventh. Leading off the inning, senior outfielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) reached base on balls for the second time of the game, advancing to second on freshman Julie Silver's (Chesterfield, Mo.) sacrifice bunt down the first base line. With only one out on the board, Bowers was stranded at second as first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) struck out looking with redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) popping up to SIU shortstop Becky Wegmann.
The Tigers will travel to Texas Tech and open Big 12 play with a two-game series beginning Saturday, March 24 at 2 p.m. (CT). The second and third games of a five-game road test, Missouri will wrap up spring break play Wednesday, March 28 in Louisville, Ky.
