Feb. 25, 2009
Columbia, Mo. - Improving to 10-0 for the first time since 1992, the 12th-ranked Missouri softball team swept Saint Louis University in its home opening doubleheader played on University Field. The Tigers, who blanked the Bilikens, 12-0 in five innings of game one and came from behind for a 7-2 victory in game two, are now tied for the longest season opening win streak in program history
"We're ahead of the curve," Missouri Head Coach Ehren Earleywine said. "But we still have a ways to go and areas to improve on before we're where I want this team to be. I'm proud of the way these girls are competing."
Missouri freshman Chelsea Thomas (Pleasantville, Iowa) was credited with the game one victory, managing her fourth solo shutout, the teams' sixth, of the campaign. Thomas hurled five innings, helping Missouri to its fourth win of the season by run rule. Allowing only two hits, the right-handed ace struck out five, forced five groundouts and three flyouts. Thomas retired 12 straight Biliken batters.
Entering game two in relief, freshman Kristin Nottelmann (Fenton, Mo.) collected her second win of the campaign, while junior Jana Hainey (Peculiar, Mo.) picked up her first save. Nottelmann entered the game in the third inning with the Tigers down 2-1, and threw 1.2 innings, refusing to give up a hit. Hainey made her fifth appearance of the season and twirled the final two innings of play, striking out three and forcing three flyouts.
Together, Missouri's pitching staff owns a 0.77 ERA and has held its opponents to a .197 average, striking out 56 batters in 64 innings.
Senior second baseman Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) had a big night for the Tigers finishing with a .571 average that was assisted by her first home run of the season. Taking on SLU in game two, Allen stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the fourth with sophomore Kathryn Poet (Tujunga, Calif.) on first base. Allen's knock deep over the left field fence gave Missouri the security runs it needed to hold on for its 7-2 win over the Bilikens. Allen closed out the night with two doubles, a home run and a single as well as two RBI.
Fellow teammated redshirt junio Gina Schneider (Liberty, Mo.) is now averaging .722 after playing in nine of Missouri's 10 games this season. Against the Bilikens, Schneider was a perfect 4-for-4, scoring four runs and credited with three RBI. Batting in the five hole in game one, Schneider ripped a first inning RBI single to right field and followed with a two run single to right center in the bottom of the second. Schneider scored three of the four times she reached base in game one. Entering game two as a pinch hitter, Schneider smacked a sixth inning, two out, double in the bottom of the sixth and scored on freshman Jaydee Young's double down the left field line.
The Tigers showed aggressiveness on the bases and finished the two games 10-of-11 on stolen bases. Fleming was an unblemished 3-of-3 in stolen bags and helped Missouri improve to 28-of-34 on the year.
Next up, Missouri will travel to San Diego, Calif., for the San Diego Classic beginning Friday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. (CT) against Oregon. Over the course of three days, Missouri will take on teams from Santa Clara, San Diego State, No. 4 UCLA, San Diego and Oregon, before retuning home to host SIU Edwardsville in a Wednesday, March 4, doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.