Tiger Softball Team Eliminated from Big 12 Championship, 5-3
5/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2008
Oklahoma City, Okla.-The third-seeded Missouri softball team suffered an opening game loss, 5-3, to sixth-seeded Texas Tech and was eliminated from the 13th annual Big 12 Championships played on field four of ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. With the loss, Missouri falls to 44-15 on the season while Texas Tech improves to 10-14.
Big 12 Freshman of the Year Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) broke up a four inning scoreless drought with her RBI single up the middle. The league leader in stolen bases sent pinch runner Gina Schneider (Liberty, Mo.) home from second base. Schneider ran for designated player Meredith Nash (Peculiar, Mo.) who reached base after being hit by pitcher Ashly Jacobs. After taking over at first, Schneider stole second. Returning to the top of the order, Taylor's two out single credited her with her 20th RBI of the season.
Texas Tech erased Missouri's lead in the top half of the fifth, scoring three runs on seven hits including two bases loaded singles. Senior pitcher Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) battled her way out of the inning, striking out third baseman Jennifer Bowers and catching Megan Shupp's line drive for out No. 3. The Red Raiders extended their lead in the seventh on first baseman Jennifer Corkin's first pitch, two out, two run home run deep over the center field fence.
Bruck took her fourth at bat of the game in the seventh and smacked an RBI double to right center to pull Missouri within three runs of the Red Raiders. Leftfielder Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) scored from second on the hit. The Tiger junior reached base earlier in the inning on a one out double to left. Missouri's rally continued when Bruck scored on junior Andee Allen's (Barnhart, Mo.) single, but came to an end when pinch runner Shana White (Columbia, Mo.) was caught trying to steal second.
Bruck threw 82 pitchers and forced 15 groundouts but was credited with the loss and falls to 16-9 on the season.
Taylor reset the Big 12 and Missouri single season stolen base record book in the first inning. After reaching base on an error, Taylor stole second for bag No. 53.
Missouri stranded nine runners on base.
