March 29, 2008

College Station, Texas. -Taking on its second top-10 team of the season, the Missouri softball team avoided the shutout but suffered a 5-1 loss to seventh-ranked Texas A&M at the Aggie Softball Complex in College Station, Texas and moves to 31-9 on the season and 2-1 in the Big 12. Texas A&M improves to 33-6 and 5-0. Senior pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) recorded the Tigers only run of the game crushing her 11th home run of the season and second in three games over the left field wall in the top of the seventh.

Bruck hurled her way out of a first inning jam. With a runner on base, leadoff batter Macie Morrow reached base on balls and advanced to second on a wild pitch, the Tiger infield managed two fielder's choice plays but allowed Morrow to reach third. Bruck's first strike out of the game was A&M's third out of the inning and brought the Tigers back up to the plate.

Texas A&M took the one-run lead in the bottom of the second inning. With one out on the board, second baseman Natalie Villarreal managed the Aggies' first hit of the game, a single up the middle. Villarreal scored from second on nine-hole hitter Kelsey Spittler's single up the middle. Despite sophomore catcher Katie Milles' (St. Louis, Mo.) tag at the plate, the run was awarded to A&M while Milles was stamped with catcher's interference.

Bruck allowed the Aggies two runs on four hits in the third frame. A&M pitching ace Megan Gibson hit a leadoff home run, while Jamie Hinshaw scored on Alex Reynolds single through the left side. A&M's third run of the game came across unearned after a Missouri fielding error allowed Reynolds to reach third.

Freshman shortstop Abby Vock (Morrison, Ill.) became Missouri's first Tiger to reach base taking base on balls in the top of the third inning. Vock was caught stealing second bringing the inning to an end.

First baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) broke up Gibson's no-hitter with a one out single to left field in the top of the fifth. The single broke up Renth's two-game hitless drought. Renth became Missouri's second out on junior Andee Allen's (Barnhart, Mo.) fielder's choice.

Bruck threw her fifth complete game of the year and struck out seven batters, her second highest strike out total of her senior campaign.

Missouri will close out its two game series with the seventh-ranked Aggies Sunday, March 30 at Noon.