April 13, 2008
Columbia, Mo.-Improving to 20-1 on University Field and 37-12 on the season, the Missouri softball team completed a two-game sweep of Texas Tech after holding off the Red Raiders, 10-6. With the win, Missouri now stands at 4-4 in league play, while Texas Tech drops to 13-31 overall and 3-8 in the Big 12. The afternoon sweep marks Missouri's second league sweep of the campaign.
Missouri erased Texas Tech's one run lead in the bottom half of the first frame on senior Amanda Renth's (Mascoutah, Ill.) two out, two run home run deep over the center field wall. The home run cleared the wall in similar fashion to yesterday's over-the-fence crush and marked the first baseman's fifth straight game with a yard ball. Renth currently owns the squad's longest hitting streak of the season at eight games.
Adding three runs in the second, Missouri pulled ahead 5-1 after Texas Tech starting pitcher Alex Watkins walked in one run and reliever Ashly Jacobs walked in the third and final run. First to score was junior Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) from third on a wild pitch. Allen led off the inning and reached base on balls, stealing second and advancing to third after freshman shortstop Abby Vock (Morrison, Ill.) was hit by pitch.
In one swing, the Red Raiders evened the score at five as catcher Robin Wike hit a grand slam off of starting pitcher Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich.). Senior pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) was brought in to close out the inning, forcing back-to-back groundouts and bringing the Tigers back up to bat.
Missouri took its second lead of the game on Allen's hard hit three run double to centerfield in the bottom of the fourth. Leading off the inning, freshman Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) singled to the shortstop and advanced to third on an error and throw that left sophomore Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) safe at first. Silver stole second on Bruck's strikeout, Missouri's second stolen base of the game, and Renth was intentionally walked loading the bases for Allen. Allen, the Tiger's second baseman, is averaging .354 on the season and leads the team in doubles with 10. Rightfielder Kathryn Poet (Tujunga, Calif.) drove in Allen from second with her two out single to centerfield.
Texas Tech's Megan Shupp's hit a solo home run in the fifth, but Renth made her fourth plate appearance in the sixth inning and smacked her 14th home run of the season for Missouri's final run of the game. Renth now stands tied with teammates Bruck and junior Lindsey Ubrun (Riverside, Calif.) with 14 home runs on the campaign.
Missouri strike out leader, Delaney made her 22nd start of the season and retired three in 3.1 innings of work. The team's strike out leader, Delaney's total now stands at 142. Bruck was credited with both of Missouri's wins over Texas Tech and owns a 12-6 record in the circle.
The Tigers will continue Big 12 play Wednesday, April 19 when they take on Border Showdown opponent Kansas in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. (CT) on University Field. Missouri currently leads Kansas in the annual Border Showdown competition, 15-10. Each game of the two game series is worth one-and-a-half points.