March 2, 2008
Columbia, Mo. -Junior Lindsey Ubrun (Riverside, Calif.) hit two home runs, including a third inning grand slam, to help Missouri secure a 12-6 win over Boston University in the final game of the Tiger Invitational. With the win, Missouri improves to 15-6 on the season and managed a perfect 5-0 record against its tournament opponents.
Ubrun erased Boston University's one run lead with her two run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Ubrun smoked the ball over the wall in right center driving in sophomore leftfielder Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) who reached first on a fielding error by Terrier first baseman Rachel Herbert.
Missouri increased its lead in the bottom of the third frame, scoring 10 runs on four hits. Ubrun, who tallied six RBI on the day, obliterated her sixth home run of the season and her first grand slam of the 2008 campaign. Batting leadoff, freshman Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) hit her first triple of the season and scored on a botched fielder's choice that left senior Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) safe at first and Ubrun, who reached base on balls, at third. Renth successfully recorded her second steal of the season to reach second while Ubrun scored on catcher Katie Milles' (St. Louis, Mo.) ground out to shortstop. Renth scored on second baseman Andee Allen's (Barnhart, Mo.) double to right center and Allen scored on freshman Kathryn Poet's (Tujunga, Calif.) single to center field. After giving up three hits in the inning, BU was forced to turn to their bull pen and Megan Currier entered the game with two Tiger runners on. Currier loaded the bases and gave Missouri two runs on back-to-back illegal pitches. With the bases once again loaded, Currier walked three Tigers, Ubrun stepped up to the plate and knocked a home run to left center pushing across four additional runs.
Boston pulled within six of Missouri scoring five runs on five hits in the top of the fifth inning. Junior Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich.) and senior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) both saw time in relief against Boston's offense. Sophomore Jana Hainey (Raymore, Mo.) started the game and was credited with the win, her sixth of the season. Hainey hurled four innings of work and allowed only one run on four hits.
Seven Tigers finished the five game tournament averaging above .300. Taylor led her teammates with a .611 average in which she was 11-for-18 at the plate, scored nine of Missouri's 33 runs and was a perfect 10-of-10 on stolen bases. Hainey and Delaney each earned two wins in the tournament, while Bruck made two appearances and also collected a victory.
The Tigers will travel to Tampa, Fla., for the USF Under Armour Invitational beginning Thursday, March 6. Missouri will face six teams in three days beginning with UTC at 8:30 a.m. (CT) March 6.