Extra points

Junior Ben Askren, Missouri’s first NCAA Wrestling Champion, was named the 2006 recipient of the Dan Hodge Trophy on Monday. Wrestling’s version of the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding collegiate wrestler of the year by the International Wrestling Institute and Museum and WIN Magazine.

Wrestling at 174 pounds, Askren finished his season 45-0 after a 14-2 major decision against previously unbeaten Jake Herbert of Northwestern in the finals.

This season Askren recorded 25 falls, nine technical falls, five major decisions, an injury default and a forfeit, scoring bonus points in all but four matches. He also carries a 3.2 grade point average and regularly volunteers to read to grade-school children in Columbia.

The award will be officially presented to Askren on April 22 at the team’s annual wrestling banquet.

MU SOFTBALL: The Tigers beat host UNLV 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader Monday. Two-run home runs by Janessa Roening and redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner contributed to the Tiger’s win. After a three-run home run in the second game, Minner’s totals eight this season and 25 in her career, placing her second in Missouri’s record of career home runs. The current record is 26, held by 1997 graduate Mary Babb.

Sophomore Jen Bruck (16-8) took the win in the first game pitching four-plus innings and striking out five.

MU BASEBALL: The Tigers slipped back into the national rankings in one poll Monday, appearing at No. 29 in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s Top 30 poll. The Tigers beat Kansas State, which had been ranked in that poll last week, in two out of three games this weekend.

Other Big 12 teams ranked in the Collegiate Baseball poll are No. 3 Nebraska, No. 10 Texas, No. 23 Oklahoma and No. 24 Baylor.

COLUMBIA COLLEGE SOFTBALL: The Cougars swept a doubleheader from St. Olaf (Minn.) College on Monday in Tuscon, Ariz., winning both games 11-1.

In the first game, Columbia College (13-10) pitcher Heather Robey allowed no runs and one hit while striking out seven in five innings. Stephanie Stowe’s second-inning solo home run was the first of four runs Columbia College scored in the inning. Stowe had four hits as did Claire Schoonover, who hit a triple and had an RBI.

To complete the sweep, Cougars pitcher Katie McMahon struck out four batters and gave up no walks in four scoreless innings. Her sister, Marcie, gave up one run in the fifth, the last inning of the game. The Cougars started the game by scoring six first-inning runs, than had three in the second and two in the third. Stowe hit her second home run of the day in the second. The next batter, Sarah Moreau, also hit a home run, giving the Cougars a 9-0 lead.

HICKMAN GIRLS’ SOCCER: The Kewpies beat host Camdenton 3-0 on Monday. Senior Kendall Foss scored the first goal in the 9th minute assisted by junior Caitlin Keith. Four minutes later, Keith scored with an assist from Foss. Senior Brittany Sharp scored the final goal in the final minute. Senior Bess Frissell-Durley had the shutout.

Hickman (3-0-1) returns to Columbia tonight at 6:30 for its first home game of the season.

MU MEN’S GOLF: The Tigers are tied for sixth after the first round of the Stevinson Ranch Invitational on Monday hosted in Stevinson, Calif. Missouri and Illinois State are 29-over par with 36-hole totals of 605. Host Colorado leads with a total of 596.

Missouri junior John Kelly is tied for 11th at 149. Senior Ben Scott is tied for 19th at 151 and junior Shawn Jasper is tied for 24th at 152. Senior Chris Mabry followed an 80 in the first round with a 73 in the second to tie for 32nd.