Missouri
Texas Tech
Home Runs Lift Missouri Past Texas Tech, 7-4
3/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2007
Lubbock, Texas. - For the second straight season, the Missouri softball team (23-17, 1-0) opened Big 12 play with a win, this year taking a 7-4 victory over Texas Tech (17-16, 0-3) at Rocky Johnson Field in Lubbock, Texas.
Fourth inning home runs by redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) and senior Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) combined with junior Jen Bruck's (St. Peters, Mo.) six inning no hitter helped the Tigers to a 5-0 advantage heading into the bottom half of the sixth frame. Freshman righty Alaina Jacobson (Crocker, Mo.) entered the game in the sixth for Missouri but gave up four runs on four hits forcing Bruck to reenter and close out the game. Bruck ended the day having thrown six and two-thirds innings without allowing a single hit.
Left fielder Minner was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI. Minner helped the Tigers to its first run of the game, driving in sophomore shortstop Andee Allen (Windsor, Mo.) in the first inning with a two out double to the gap in right center. Allen, the Tiger's two-hole hitter, reached base on balls and stole second earlier in the inning.
The Tigers scored four runs on two hits in the sixth inning, opening with cleanup hitter Minner's solo shot over the center field wall. The home run was Minner's 11th of the season and 31 of her career. Masterson took her turn at the plate with runners on second and third. Both Bruck and senior second baseman Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) reached base on balls and scored on Masteron's three run home run.
The Red Raiders pulled within one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Missouri increased its lead in the seventh on senior Amanda Jo White's (Tallmadge, Ohio) two RBI double through the left side.
The two teams will continue Big 12 play tomorrow at Noon (CT) on Rocky Johnson Field. -MU-
