Sports shorts
Published April 27, 2010
Gymnastics
After qualifying for two events in Thursday night's semifinal, Missouri senior Sarah Shire finished within the top five in vault and floor exercise during the NCAA Championships in Gainesville, Fla.
On vault, each competitor executed two different vaults for six judges, and the average of the tabulated scores was the gymnasts' final score.
Shire performed a Yurchenko laid-out full and a Yurchenko half-on pike front off, earning a 9.8750 and a 9.7625 respectively, which resulted in an average of 9.8188. Shire's score put her fifth of 18 gymnasts.
On floor exercise, Shire gave a routine worthy of a 9.900 and held the top spot in the event for a time. Shire eventually finished tied for second with Penn State senior Brandi Personett and Big 12 rival, Oklahoma senior Hollie Vise.
UCLA gymnasts took top honors in both events Shire competed in. Sophomore Vanessa Zamarripa snatched first in vault with an average of 9.925, and junior Brittani McCullough won the floor title with a 9.9375.
Shire, who during the Thursday's team competition qualified for the All-American first team on vault (9.925) and floor (9.900) and the All-American second team on uneven bars (9.875), ended her collegiate career as the most decorated gymnast in Missouri's history.
Softball
No. 11 Missouri earned a split this weekend against No. 25 Texas A&M.
The Tigers used the long ball in game one, hitting a season-high five home runs for the 14-1 victory.
Junior catcher Catherine Lee started the scoring early for the Tigers, belting her second home run in two games. Sophomore outfielder Ashley Fleming followed two batters later with another homer, extending the lead to 2-0.
Missouri's offense would surge again in the fourth inning, using the long ball yet again to pull away. The Tigers got their first back-to-back home runs of the year, as freshman utility player Lindsey Muller hit a three-run pinch-hit homer, followed by a solo shot by junior first baseman Marla Schweisberger.
The Tigers would pour on eight more runs in the fifth inning, forcing the run rule victory. Senior pitcher Jana Hainey continued her impressive pitching streak, notching her seventh win of the season in the complete game effort.
Game two pitted the Tigers on the other side of the long ball, as the Aggies used three home runs to squeak out the 6-5 victory. Aggie freshman Meagan May powered the offense, blasting her 19th and 20th home runs of the season off Tiger sophomore pitcher Kristin Nottelmann.
The Tigers went into the seventh down four runs, but fought their way back to tie the game. Schweisberger hit a two-run homer, her second home run of the series, to pull the game within two. The Tigers would score two more on RBIs from freshman Jenna Marston and junior Kathryn Poet. The fight was in vain, however, as the Aggies scored in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 6-5 victory.
The Tigers look to bounce back with a conference doubleheader Wednesday at Iowa State.
Football
Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was the lone Missouri player taken in the NFL Draft this weekend.
Weatherspoon, taken at No. 19 overall by the Atlanta Falcons, will wear No. 56 next season.
Three other former Missouri players signed free agent contracts. Lineman Kurtis Gregory signed on with Carolina, wide receiver Jared Perry with San Francisco and lineman Jaron Baston with Denver, according to the Kansas City Star.
Wide receiver Danario Alexander had yet to land with a team as of Monday night. Injuries might be the reason why teams are reticent to sign him. Alexander has had four knee surgeries since 2008.