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COLUMBIA — Cold temperatures have once again forced the MU softball team to change the time and venue of its home opener.
The team’s doubleheader against Saint Louis University, originally scheduled to start today 3 p.m. at University Field, will now be played at 6:30 p.m. in the Dan Devine Pavilion.
These changes come one week after the team’s first scheduled home game against the Universtiy of Missouri-Kansas City was moved indoors before eventually being cancelled due to illness in UMKC’s team.
Although the pavilion can comfortably hold a softball field and the team held several regualar season games there last season, some rule modification are necessary. For example, balls that hit the ceiling are considered dead while those that hit some parts of the pavilion’s outer walls are ruled home runs.
Before last week’s scheduled game MU coach Ehren Earleywine said the calm conditions indoors actually affect players the most.
“It is a completely different feel as far as hitting and fielding balls,” he said, citing controlled temperatures, lack of wind and the consistant bounces provided by the artificial turf.
The Tigers are 8-6 this season, and went 2-2 in the Lobo Invitational in New Mexico over the weekend. After defeating Wichita State and fellow Big 12 school Texas Tech in a non-conference match-up, the team fell to former coach Ty Singleton and his New Mexico team as well as Washington.
With temperatures predicted to reach into the 50s this weekend, the team may be able to play its first outdoor games at home when it hosts Boston University and South Dakota State University in the Tiger Invitational.
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