Missouri
Drake
Thomas Throws Perfect Game, Tigers Sweep
3/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 2, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Redshirt sophomore Chelsea Thomas tossed a perfect game and junior Kristin Nottelmann won
No. 17 Mizzou 5, Drake 0 Earleywine Interview Thomas Interview |
Time: 1:22 Attendance: 341 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F | |
| Drake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MIZZOU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | X | 5 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| W - Thomas (1-2) | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| L - DeLong (4-1) | 6.0 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Hitting Leaders | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | HR |
| MU - Taylor | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| MU - Hudson | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
No. 17 Mizzou 8, Drake 1 |
Time: 1:49 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F | |
| Drake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| MIZZOU | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | X | 8 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| W - Nottelmann (4-0) | 7.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| L - Dordel (2-4) | 6.0 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Hitting Leaders | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | HR |
| MU - Ruggeberg | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| MU - Fleming | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Thomas threw the first perfect game for Missouri since Feb. 17, 2002, and first seven inning perfect game for the Tigers since April 26, 1991. She struck out 11 of the 21 batters she faced and threw only 77 pitches as she won her first game of the year. The perfect game was the fifth no hitter of her career, tying her for the school record for most individual no hitters in a career.
Tied at 0-0 in the fourth, senior Rhea Taylor broke the scoreless affair with her second home run of the season as she blasted a grand slam over the right-center field wall to make it 4-0 Tigers. Singles by Maddison Ruggeberg and Abby Vock put a pair of runners on for Missouri, and a walk to Mackenzie Sykes set up Taylor's blast, which came on a 1-1 count. Taylor singled in the first inning to extend her hitting streak to 12 games. The streak was snapped in game two, tying her for the sixth longest streak in program history.
Nicole Hudson hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Tiger lead to 5-0. The blast was her third of the season. Taylor, Ruggeberg and Abby Vock all had two hits apiece for Missouri.
Nottelmann won her fourth game of the year with a complete game, as she allowed only four hits and one run while striking out seven.
Drake jumped ahead in the first on an RBI double by Erin Mollohan, driving in Amy Pierce who walked and stole second with one out.
Missouri would even the score in the fifth on an unearned run to make it 1-1. Taylor led off with a walk and then stole second base, advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Ruggeberg then drove her in with a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers added three more unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth, capped off by a two run double by Ruggeberg that scored Taylor and Lisa Simmons. Alaina Burkhart scored earlier in the inning when Taylor reached on an error.
Another fielding error by Drake in the fifth added another run for the Tigers. Vock reached when the Drake right fielder dropped a fly ball, allowing Hudson to score from second base.
Mizzou tacked on three more in the bottom of the sixth to push the lead to 8-1. Ruggeberg drove Shana White home on a sacrifice fly, and a double by Ashley Fleming scored Jenna Marston. Marla Schweisberger singled in to left on the first pitch she saw, plating Marston.
Ruggeberg finished the game with a team-best four RBI on a 1-for-2 day at the plate. Fleming had a pair of hits, a run and an RBI while Taylor scored twice.
Missouri heads to St. Louis this weekend for the annual Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament, hosted by SLU. The Tigers will open play on Friday against SEMO at 1:30 p.m. CT.
