May 11, 2007

Box Score

Columbia, Mo. -Despite a seven hour delay in game due to rain in Oklahoma City, the 18th-ranked Missouri softball team (38-21) used a three run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to shut out No. 18 Texas (33-18), 3-0, in the Tigers' first game of the 12th annual Big 12 Championships. Missouri will take on second-ranked Oklahoma Saturday, May 12, at 11 a.m., on the championship field of ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

Missouri improved to 13-10 in the all-time series and 3-0 against the Longhorns this season. With the loss, Texas is eliminated from the Big 12 tournament.

A scoreless competition through five-and-a-half innings, Missouri broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. With one out on the board, nine hole hitter Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) singled through the left side to reach first and stole second becoming the first Tiger of the game to reach scoring position. Returning to the top of the order, senior Sarah Stringer (Auxvasse, Mo.) reached base on balls bringing freshman rightfielder Julie Silver (Chesterfield, Mo.) to the plate. 1-for-3 on the night, Silver's only hit of the game drove in Missouri's first run. Doubling to right field, Silver allowed Bowers to score and put herself and Stringer in scoring position. After junior Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) struck out swinging and redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) reached base on balls, pitcher Jen Bruck made her third appearance at the plate and hit a two RBI single to clinch the game.

Bruck, who threw her fifth solo shutout of the campaign, improved to 20-8 on the season and collected the fourth Big 12 tournament win of her career. Longhorn Megan Denny suffered the loss and fell to 20-15 on the year. Bruck struck out five Texas batters including third baseman Kelly Melone for the final out of the game.