March 14, 2007

Game One Box | Game Two Box

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri softball team (19-13) swept North Dakota State (15-10) in a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Tigers won game one 5-4, with the winning run coming from a double steal in the sixth inning. Junior Micaela Minner drove in three with three doubles as part of a 5-for-5, 4 RBI day in the, 7-1, game two win. In addition, junior Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) hit home runs in both contests to move to nine on the season. Freshman Alana Jacobson pitched a complete game in the second contest.

GAME ONE
The Tigers won game one 5-4 in thanks to a clutch performance by CF Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.). Bowers went 2-for-4 in the game and scored twice, including the winning run in the sixth. Bowers led off the Tiger order in the first with a single. After stealing second, a Minner (Sanger, Texas) double scored Bowers to give Mizzou a 1-0 advantage after the first.

In the fourth, the Tigers took advantage of a dropped force-out attempt at third to score Sarah Stringer for their second run.

In the fifth, North Dakota State scored four runs and took the 4-2 lead, but the Tigers responded and tied the score at four in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer to left center by Renth.

The Tigers scored the winning run in the sixth as Bowers stretched a double after her liner hit the right-field wall. Bowers then advanced to third on a Andee Allen groundout. Renth walked and then was replaced by pinch-hitter Michaele Vock. On the next play, Vock stole second, allowing Bowers to steal home for the double steal and the winning run.

Junior Jen Bruck allowed only one run, adding four strikeouts, as the starter for the Tigers on the mound. Sophomore Megan Dennis (Liberty, Mo.) recorded her seventh win on the season (7-2), pitching the scoreless sixth and seventh innings in relief.

North Dakota State's Allison Baake was credited with the loss (10-4).

GAME TWO
In game two, the Tigers used scoring in the first, third, and fifth innings to come away with a 7-1 decision. Minner, hitting in the clean-up spot, employed three doubles in her three at-bats to spark the Tiger offense, driving in three of the Tigers' runs.

Allen singled as the second batter in the first inning and was quickly followed by a Renth single to place base runners. The first Minner double came next to score Allen and Vock, pitch-running for Renth, to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.

Mizzou did not look back as Jacobson pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and one unearned run. The frosh goes to 3-4 on the season.

Renth homered for the second time on the day and the ninth time in the season in the bottom of the third. The shot was teed-off to right center, traveling well past the right-corner of the fence to also score Allen and give Mizzou a 4-1 lead.

In the fifth, Bowers doubled to lead off the inning. After an intentional walk was given to Renth, Minner hit her third double of the game to score the two base runners. Stringer grabbed her second RBI of the day with a single to drive in Minner.

NDSU's Allison Bakke took the loss to go to 10-5 on the season, pitching 4 1/3 innings in allowing six earned runs.

Mizzou will next host the Tiger Invitational this upcoming weekend, starting Friday with No. 9 Northwestern, Western I Illinois, and Columbia College as guests. While the tournament begins at 11 a.m., Friday, the Tigers will play a doubleheader on day one, starting at 3:45 p.m. versus Columbia College with the nightcap scheduled to start at 6 p.m. versus Northwestern.

For a complete tournament schedule, visit mutigers.com.

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