Softball Defeats No. 18 Missouri

April 13, 2005

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Junior Nettie Fierros hit a three-run homer to secure the University of Kansas softball team’s 5-3 victory over No. 18 Missouri Wednesday night at University Field. With the win, the Jayhawks improved to 18-16 overall and 2-5 in the Big 12 Conference while the Tigers dropped to 31-7 and 5-4 in league play.

MU got on the board 1-0 in its first at-bat. Lead-off batter Leanne Bowers walked, moved to third on a KU throwing error and scored on a base hit by Amanda Renth.

The Jayhawks took a 3-1 lead in the top of the second on Fierros’ dinger, her third of the season. Destiny Frankenstein and Elle Pottorf led off the inning with base hits and Fierros took her first pitch over the center field fence for three RBI.

The Tigers came within a run in the bottom of the third when Bowers hit a solo home run, her eighth of the season, to left. KU’s Christina Ross came in to relieve Serena Settlemier in the bottom of the fourth and gave up just two hits in the last four innings.

KU added to its lead in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs off two hits. Fierros led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Frazer. Heather Stanley singled to right to move Fierros to third and stole second to put two runners in scoring position.

Jessica Moppin singled to score Fierros and with bases loaded, Elle Pottorf was hit by a pitch to bring home Stanley and give KU the 5-2 lead.

MU threatened in the bottom of the seventh as pinch hitter Jen Bruck homered over the center field fence, but Ross retired the final batter for the save.

Settlemier (9-6) struck out four, allowed two hits and walked one in the first three innings for the win. Ross gave up two hits, struck out one and walked one. The Jayhawk offense recorded six hits off Erin Kalka (4-4) in the first 4.1 innings. MU’s Erica Peterson allowed not hits and struck out four to finish the game.

With the win, KU now leads the 2004-05 Border Showdown 14.5 to 12.5.

KU will travel to Springfield, Mo., for a single game against Southwest Missouri State at 3 p.m. Thursday.

-KU-