MU softball team tied for first in conference
Published April 10, 2007
The MU softball team is tied for the lead in the Big 12 conference standings at 5-0 after sweeping Oklahoma State last weekend.
Junior pitcher Jen Bruck was the story of the weekend. On Friday, she pitched her fourth-straight complete game, striking out a career-high 10 batters. She surrendered one run but made up for it with a solo home run of her own — one of three Tiger extra base hits.
"Over the past about two weeks, Jen has really turned the corner," coach Ehren Earleywine said. "She's really started pitching like she's capable of pitching and like the old Jen Bruck, and that's a great thing for us to see."
Junior Amanda Renth generated the Tigers' other run with a solo home run, which secured the team's 2-1 win. Earleywine gave credit to Oklahoma State for having scouted his team well.
"Oklahoma State did a good job of attacking our hitters," Earleywine said. "I think they really worked our weaknesses well."
But in the second game of the series, a 6-1 Tiger victory, Earleywine said the Tigers had adjusted.
"I think our hitters knew what Oklahoma State was going to do against them," he said. "Sure enough, they went right to those same spots again and our hitters were smart enough to make adjustments, and we were able to get six or seven runs in game two."
Bruck pitched five innings and struck out eight batters in the second game. It was her 13th win of the season.
The Tigers are tied with Baylor, which is 6-0, for the lead in the Big 12. Also in the mix are second-ranked Oklahoma and fourth-ranked Texas A&M. Earleywine said his team is capable of good pitching, hitting and defense, but it has been unable to put all three together in a game, which he said will be necessary to defeat the Bears, Sooners or Aggies.
"We have to do a better job in practice of putting ourselves in those live situations and mentally preparing ourselves in practice," he said. "So that when that situation happens, we've been there before and done it."
The team returns to action against Kansas at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at home.