Feb. 28, 2008
Columbia, Mo. -Coming off of back-to-back home opening wins against Saint Louis Wednesday night, the 10-6 Missouri softball team is set to host the Tiger Invitational, beginning Friday, Feb. 29 at 5:30 p.m. (CT) in the Dan Devine Pavilion. Cold weather and poor field conditions have forced day one of the Tiger Invitational indoors with game two set to begin at 7:30 p.m. and game three slated for a 9:30 p.m. first pitch. Entrance to all three games is free. Fans are encouraged to park in the parking lot located on the west side of Memorial Stadium and take the pedestrian bridge across Providence Blvd. The Dan Devine Pavilion is located just south of the Missouri Athletics Training Complex (MATC) on the corner of Stadium and Providence Blvd.
The first game of the Tiger Invitational will feature Missouri and South Dakota State at 5:30 p.m. (CT). The Jackrabbits enter the three-day tournament with a 4-5 record and 1-3 mark in road games. Brittany Postma leads her team with a .577 average and .769 slugging percentage. A junior left-handed hitter, Postma has hit two triples and one double this season and is credited with six RBI. In the circle, Jenna Marston has taken all of South Dakota State's wins and losses and stands at 4-5. Marston shutout Dayton, 6-0 on Feb. 10. The Jackrabbits opened their season with three straight wins before suffering a 7-2 loss to Northern Iowa. As a team, South Dakota State is averaging .285 on the season. Friday's evening game marks the first meeting in program history between South Dakota State and Missouri.
Missouri's second game of the night will begin at 7:30 p.m. when the Tigers take on the Terriers of Boston University. Tied at 1-1 in the all-time series, Missouri last met with Boston University in 2003 at the Houston Classic. Winning game one, 4-0, Missouri fell to the Terriers, 8-7 in eight innings of game two. Boston University brings four Terriers batting over .300 with Shayne Lotito owning the highest average at .375. As a team, the Terriers are averaging .229 on the season and own a 1-4 record. Boston University opened its season Feb. 22 with a 3-0 shutout of Cal State Northridge at the Marriott Houston Classic. For their work in the three-day tournament, Lotito and pitcher Kelly Engman were named America East Player and Rookie of the Week on Feb. 25. Engman finished the tournament with a 1.27 ERA having thrown 11 innings of work. The freshman allowed three runs, only two earned, and gave up 12 hits, while holding her opponents to a .273 average.
Looking for their 11th win of the season, the Tiger Invitational marks Missouri's fourth tournament appearance of the 2008 campaign. Junior pitcher Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich.) carries a 9.83 ERA and 4-2 record in the circle. Delaney, who recorded a five inning no hitter Wednesday night in game one against Saint Louis, has thrown three solo shutouts and five complete games. In 42.1 innings, Delaney has allowed only five earned runs and has struck out 37 batters.
Looking solid at the plate is junior Lindsey Ubrun (Riverside, Calif.). Batting .340, Ubrun has scored nine runs and hit one triple and three home runs and has recorded a team-high 14 RBI. Teammate senior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) owns the highest Tiger slugging percentage at .606 and has hit four home runs this season, most recently crushing a fourth inning solo shot in Missouri's second game against Saint Louis, Feb. 27. Fans interested in attending the third game of the Tiger Invitational will see Boston University and South Dakota State go head-to-head beginning at 9:30 p.m. (CT).
UPDATED TIGER INVITATIONAL DAY ONE SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 29, 2008
5:30 p.m. South Dakota State (visitor) vs. Missouri (home)
7:30 p.m. Missouri (visitor) vs. Boston University (home)
9:30 p.m. Boston University (visitor) vs. South Dakota State (home)