Feb. 20, 2009
Boca Raton, Fla. - Playing in its second game of the Strike-Out Cancer Tournament, the No. 15 Missouri softball team shutdown host school Florida Atlantic (FAU), 9-1, in six innings to improve to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in the tournament. Missouri's second win of the season by run rule, the Tigers closed out the game in the sixth on freshman first baseman Ashley Fleming's (Silex, Mo.) RBI single that drove in pinch runner Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) from third base.
Making her first start since Missouri's season opener against Evansville, left-handed junior Jana Hainey (Peculiar, Mo.) threw five innings en route to her second win of the still young campaign. Hainey held the Owls to one run on four hits, forcing six groundouts and six flyouts. Florida Atlantic pushed its sole run across in the top of the third. Missouri freshman Kristin Nottelmann (Fenton, Mo.) entered the game in the sixth shutting down FAU's offense in a one, two, three inning.
Eight Tigers combined for 11 hits, tying a season high set against Virginia Tech on Feb. 14. Centerfielder Shana White (Columbia, Mo.) and senior designated player Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) both finished with a multi-hit game. White, who now owns a .667 average, went 3-for-4 and scored two runs, while Minner finished 2-for-3 with three RBI. Making back-to-back starts in day one of the three-day tournament, White proved strong at the plate for Missouri, finishing 4-for-6 with four runs.
The Tigers used a four run fourth to secure its lead over Florida Atlantic. Catcher Katie Milles reached base on balls, advancing to second after shortstop Abby Vock (Morrison, Ill.) was hit by pitch. Both Tiger runners moved up one base on White's single to third. With the bases loaded, FAU pitcher Rose Gressley allowed senior Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) to reach base on balls, sending Milles home for Missouri run No. four. The bases were still loaded as senior third baseman Lindsey Ubrun (Riverside, Calif.) took her turn at the plate, offering up a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed Vock to reach home safely. With two outs on the board, Minner came through with a two run single up the middle allowing both White and Allen to score.
Ubrun and sophomore Marla Schweisberger (Raytown, Mo.) both managed doubles in the game. Schweisberger's second inning knock to left center drove in sophomore Kathryn Poet (Tujunga, Calif.) from second base for Missouri's first run of the game, while Ubrun's third inning hit to right center put her in scoring position for Minner's RBI single down the left field line.
Missouri will face Southeast Conference (SEC) opponent Arkansas in its third game of the Strike-Out Cancer tournament. First pitch is set for 8 a.m. (CT). Arkansas lost both of its games today to FIU and Florida Atlantic.