March 10, 2009
Columbia, Mo. - After capturing the teams' third tournament title of the campaign, the 14th-ranked Missouri softball squad is set to host Northern Iowa in a single game Wednesday, March 11, beginning at 3 p.m. (CT) on University Field. Missouri, now 18-3 on the year and 3-1 at home, is 21-5 all-time against the Panthers of Northern Iowa. Wednesday's game marks Missouri's first against UNI since 2006.
Missouri's .331 average and 0.76 ERA ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 while its 18-3 record, or 86 percent winning percentage, marks the Tiger's best start to the season since 2005.
This week's Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, Chelsea Thomas, is 8-2 on the year, and has thrown 55 strikeouts in 63.1 innings of work. With seven solo shutouts to her name, among which included back-to-back complete game no hitters, Thomas is likely to make her 11th start of the season in Wednesday's game. To date, Thomas owns a 0.77 ERA and has allowed only seven earned runs.
Offensively, sophomore Rhea Taylor continues to dominate at the plate, and is averaging .429 as Missouri's leadoff batter. With runners on base, Taylor hits .667 and with runners in scoring position, she's managing a .500 average. Taylor was 4-of-4 on stolen bases last week, bringing her career stolen base total to 66, which ranks ninth in Missouri's career home run record book. On the season, Taylor is averaging .488 and owns a .721 slugging percentage which ranks No. 1 on the team, as does her batting average (.488), on base percentage (.542), runs scored (18) and total bases (31).
Northern Iowa enters the afternoon contest on a five game win streak, with two of its five wins coming against Big 12 opponent Kansas (8-5 and 9-6). The Panthers are 14-4 overall and 2-2 in road games. UNI met its only ranked opponent of the season, No. 22 LSU, on Feb. 20 and dropped a one run, 3-2, loss to the Tigers.
Outfielder Megan Machovec owns the squad's best batting average at .439. With four doubles, two triples and a home run to her name, the junior has notched a team high .606 slugging percentage and is 3-of-5 on stolen bases. The Panthers are led in the circle by junior right handed pitcher Jen Larsen. 6-2 on the year with a 1.38 ERA, Larsen recently helped the Panthers shutout Eastern Illinois, 9-0. Together, the UNI pitching staff has tallied a 2.31 ERA.
Following Missouri's meeting with UNI, the Tigers will travel east for the Coastal Carolina Tournament, March 13-15, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Missouri will square off against teams from Coastal Carolina, Michigan State and North Carolina before returning home to host Western Illinois in a doubleheader Wednesday, March 18.