April 19, 2008
Austin, Texas-The Missouri softball team (39-13) dropped its first Big 12 game in five contests after suffering a 6-1 loss to Texas on McComb Field. Falling to 6-5 in league play, Missouri and Texas exchanged places in the conference standings with Texas taking third on an 8-5 mark.
Freshman Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) broke up Texas ace Megan Denny's six inning no hitter with a leadoff bunt single in the seventh. Scoring Missouri's sole run of the game, the Tiger slap hitter scored on a double play that tagged two hole hitter Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) out at third and cleanup batter Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) out at first. Missouri's only other hit of the game, a single to left field, came by senior Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.).
Missouri starting pitcher Bruck suffered her first loss (14-7) in five games after allowing the Longhorns six runs on nine hits through six innings of work. Bruck held Texas hitless through two innings, recording a three-up-three-down first that included a strike out of leadoff batter Desiree Williams.
Texas put up two runs in the bottom of the third, with leftfielder Kori Cook stealing home for the first run of the game. The Longhorns tacked on one run in the fifth and three in the bottom of the sixth. Third baseman Crystal Saenz hit a two run home run to left field aiding in Texas' shutout of the Tigers.
Game two of the series will begin at Noon, Sunday, April 20.