University of Missouri
Florida International
Tiger Softball Extends Streak to Seven
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 21, 2009
Boca Raton, Fla. - Playing in its fourth game of the Strike-Out Cancer Tournament, the 15th-ranked Missouri softball team improved to 7-0 on the year after blanking FIU, 5-0. The win gives the Tigers a 4-0 record at the tournament hosted by Florida Atlantic and marks Missouri's second win of the year over the Golden Panthers. Senior Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich.) was credited with the win, her first of the season.
Throwing six complete innings, Delaney held FIU scoreless, helping Missouri to its fourth shutout win of the year. The Tiger pitcher struck out five Golden Panthers and forced nine groundouts. Junior lefty Jana Hainey (Peculiar, Mo.) entered the game in the seventh, striking out two of the four batters she faced.
As the visiting team, Missouri took the early lead scoring one run in the top of the first inning. Senior designated player Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) knocked a two out double to right center and scored on first baseman Marla Schweisberger's single to right field. Schweisberger closed out the game 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The Tigers put up two runs in both the second and fifth frames. Senior Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) led off the second inning with a single down the right field line, advancing to second on Gina Schneider's (Liberty, Mo.) single through the left side. Both runners moved up one base on sophomore Megan Christopher's (Wright City, Mo.) sacrifice bunt. With two outs on the board, sophomore Abby Vock (Morrison, Ill.) struck out looking, the Tigers returned to the top of the order where Shana White (Columbia, Mo.) bunt singled allowing Allen to score. Schneider, then at third, stole home for the third Missouri run of the game. The inning came to a close after White, who advanced to second on Schneider's stolen base, was tagged out at third.
As a team, the Tigers combined for 12 hits, a single season high, with White, Schweisberger, Allen and Schneider all managing two hits each.
The Tigers will close out the Strike-Out Cancer Tournament Sunday, Feb. 22 against Providence beginning at 9 a.m. (CT). Following the game, Missouri will return to Columbia, Mo. and host Saint Louis in a home-opening doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. (CT).
