Softball team tied for first in Big 12

By Sam Wilson

Published May 1, 2007

Give the MU softball team a Top 10-ranked opponent and it will most likely split the series. Having already split with Oklahoma and Texas A&M earlier in the season, the Tigers traveled to Waco, Texas, tied with the Baylor Bears for the Big 12 lead. After the weekend, Missouri left in the same spot it came in.

"You'd like to sweep," coach Ehren Earleywine said. "But a split is nothing to be ashamed of, and it kept us right there in the hunt for the Big 12 Championship so, all in all, it was a pretty good weekend."

The Tigers remained tied atop the conference after taking game one on Saturday but losing in game two on Sunday. Baylor scored two runs in the first inning of game one, aided by a throwing error from MU pitcher junior Jen Bruck. In the second inning, Bruck hit a two-run home run to tie the game. After Baylor took a 3-2 lead, Bruck scored on senior Alli Kennewell's home run to give the Tigers the lead at 4-3.

Freshman left-hander Jana Hainey, who was used as a complement to the right-handed Bruck, got her first save of the season in the first game.

On Sunday, another throwing error by Bruck allowed Baylor to score its first of three runs on the day. Those three were enough, as the Tigers were unable to reach scoring position in Kirsten Shortridge's complete game shutout.

Earleywine said Bruck will meet with a sports psychologist to remedy the problem. But in the interim, she will run toward the base and then throw the ball underhand, something she started doing in the second Baylor game.

"Hopefully that's something she can take into this weekend and do as well," Earleywine said.

The Tigers and Bears are tied at 12-3 in the Big 12. The Tigers have a two-game set with Nebraska at home this weekend. At 14-4 and 12-5, respectively, Oklahoma and Texas A&M remain in title contention. The team has four days of practice to prepare, as this is the first time this season the team does not have a mid-week game. But Earleywine said he doesn't think he needs to prepare for a letdown against the lesser-ranked Huskers.

"I don't think that there's anything I need to do to motivate the kids right now," Earleywine said. "They're ready to play, they know that if they win two games, at the very worst case scenario they could be the co-champions of the Big 12. So I don't think motivation is something that I need to do. I think really just the opposite is what I need to do: to keep them not too high emotionally."