April 26, 2006

Box Score

Ames. Iowa - Playing game one of a doubleheader against Big 12 North opponent Iowa State, the Missouri softball team (21-22, 5-8) held off the Cyclones (22-23, 4-9), 8-3, at the Southwest Athletic Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa.

The Cyclones took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame after sophomore righty Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) hit ISU batter Jennifer Bigbee with the bases loaded. Bruck shut down Iowa State's offense and stranded three runners on base by striking out rightfielder Stephanie Mosley.

Bruck evened things in the top of the second with a leadoff home run over the wall in right center. Bouncing off the scoreboard, it was Bruck's eighth homer of the season and 24th of her two year career. The crush moves Bruck to third in the Missouri career home run record book alongside Barb Wright and Heather Kunkel.

After giving up one run in the bottom of the second, Missouri took the lead in the top of the fourth. Notching four runs on four hits, third baseman Jaci Schuyler (Wichita, Kan.) knocked a two run single up the middle to drive in redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner and Bruck from third and second base, respectively. Sophomore Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.), who had reached first earlier in the inning on a single to left field, advanced to second on Schuyler's hit and was relieved by pinch runner Amy Henke (Florissant, Mo.). With junior shortstop Alli Kennewell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) at the plate, her groundout to ISU second baseman Bigbee advanced runners to second and third, while catcher Kathy Masterson's (St. Louis, Mo.) groundout drove in Henke. Junior second baseman Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) hit a two out single through the right side sending Schuyler home for Missouri's fourth run of the game.

The Tiger's held Iowa State scoreless in the bottom half of the inning and added three runs to their total in the top of the fifth. Senior outfielder Janessa Roening (Port Angeles, Wash.) drew a walk and advanced home on a double to deep left field by Minner. Advancing to third on the throw from the outfield, Minner remained on base as Bruck singled down the left field line. Renth, 4-for-4, returned to the plate and recorded her eighth double of the season along with her 28th RBI as Minner came running home. Bruck scored on Schuyler's groundout and the inning ended on two straight outs.

Iowa State scored one run in the sixth but was unable to overcome Missouri's five run lead.

Game two of the doubleheader against Iowa State will begin at approximately 4:30 p.m. (CST).