Feb. 24, 2009
With eight games under its belt this season, the 12th-ranked Missouri softball team is set to open its home schedule Wednesday, Feb. 25, against instate opponent Saint Louis University. The afternoon doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. (CT) on University Field, with first pitch of game two slated for 5 p.m. (CT). Entrance to both games is free. Fans are encouraged to wear gold and support their nationally ranked squad.
Missouri looks to extend its eight game win streak with a pair of wins over the Lady Bilikens. The Tigers own a 56-2 lead in the all-time series and outscored the Lady Bilikens, 37-6, in four meetings last season.
Two wins over Saint Louis would move the Tigers to 10-0 on the season, tying Missouri's longest season opening win streak set previously in 1992. Two of Missouri's 10 wins in 1992 came against the Lady Bilikens, 5-0 and 7-0.
Seven members of the 2009 Tiger team own above a .300 average, with senior Gina Schneider (Liberty, Mo.) batting .643 through seven games. Sophomore Shana White (Columbia, Mo.), the Strike-Out Cancer Tournament MVP carries a .571 average into the Wednesday doubleheader, while teammate Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) is batting .545 on the season.
Missouri's four-person pitching staff owns a 0.67 ERA with senior Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich.) standing at 1-0 with a 0.00 mark. Junior Jana Hainey, a lefty from Peculiar, Mo., is 2-0 on the year with a 0.50 ERA. With four wins to her name, freshman Chelsea Thomas (Peculiar, Mo.) owns a 0.59 ERA and has recorded three of Missouri's five shutouts on the season. Hurling 23.3 innings, the Tiger pitcher has allowed only two runs and has struck out 20 batters. Rounding out the pitching staff is fellow freshman Kristin Nottelmann. Nottelmann is also 1-0 on the year. Together, Missouri's pitchers have held their opponents to a .206 average.
Both the Tiger team batting average, .338, and ERA, 0.67, lead the highly competitive Big 12 Conference.
The Lady Billikins are coming off of a 2-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe and are in full gear to face the Tigers. Junior Nicki Jost leads the Billikins with not only the highest batting average, .320, but stolen bases with a total of six. Sophomore Erin Kelly leads the Lady Bilikens' pitching staff and stands at 2-1 on the year with a 1.75 ERA. Kelly combined with teammate Stacy Gillette for Saint Louis' shutout of Louisiana-Monroe.
In last season's home opener, the Tigers blanked Saint Louis, 10-0, while playing in the Dan Devine Pavilion. Missouri's home opening win streak dates back to 2002, when the Tigers bested Illinois-Chicago, 11-8, in the Mizzou Round Robin. Over the past five years, the Tigers have managed a 78-25 record at home.