Feb. 18, 2008

Columbia, Mo. -With cold weather in the forecast, Missouri softball Head Coach Ehren Earleywine announced today that Wednesday's, Feb. 20, home opening games against UMKC will be held in the Dan Devine Pavilion beginning at 11 a.m. (CT). Originally slated for a 3 p.m. (CT) first pitch, the change in time and location has been made to accommodate both softball teams and fans. Dan Devine Pavilion is located next to the Mizzou Athletics Training Complex on the corner of Stadium Blvd. and Providence.

Entrance to the Wednesday doubleheader is free. Fans planning to attend the games are encouraged to park in the parking lots on the West side of Memorial Stadium and take the pedestrian bridge across Providence Blvd.

Wednesday's game marks the 47th meeting between Missouri and UMKC. The Tigers hold a dominating 45-1 advantage over the Kangaroos. The two teams last met Feb. 23, 2007, at the Clarion Inn Lady'Back Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. Missouri came away with the 7-1 win.

Missouri is currently 6-4 on the season having won three straight games at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., this past weekend.

Tiger senior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) had a strong showing in Las Vegas, finishing the tournament with a .357 batting average and credited with one Missouri win. Bruck was 5-for-14 at the plate with three home runs, a double, eight RBI and four runs scored. In the circle, Bruck struck out 14 batters in 15.2 innings of work.

UMKC enters the doubleheader with an 0-5 record. The Kangaroos opened their season Feb. 15 at the Kajikawa Classic and suffered losses to Washington, Nevada, Texas State, Arizona State and Idaho State. Senior infielder Alicia Baker holds the highest average of her teammates with a .333. Baker finished the tournament 4-for-12 with two RBI.