March 15, 2009
Myrtle Beach, S.C. - Senior Missouri pitcher Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich.) threw a complete game no hitter helping the Tigers to their second win of the weekend, 8-0 in five innings, over 15th-ranked North Carolina. The No. 14 Tigers are 23-3 on the year and closed out the Coastal Carolina Tournament with a perfect 4-0 record. Sunday's no hitter is the Tiger's third of the season and the first for Delaney since her five inning complete game shutout of Saint Louis, Feb. 27, 2008, in Columbia, Mo.
Three Tigers hit home runs off of the Tar Heel pitching staff. Leadoff batter Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) crushed a three run homer in the top of the fourth frame to give Missouri a 6-0 lead over North Carolina. Catcher Katie Milles (St. Louis, Mo.) led off the inning with a single up the middle and Michaele Vock (Morrison, Ill.) entered the game to pinch run. Sophomore Shana White (Columbia, Mo.) singled to third base allowing Vock to advance to second. Both runners moved up one base on a wild pitch and scored on Taylor's one out yard ball.
Missouri's 14th shutout of the season, freshman Ashley Fleming (Silex, Mo.) scored run No. 7 with her leadoff home run to left center. Designated player Marla Schweisberger (Raytown, Mo.) was next at bat and helped insure Missouri's win with her crush over the left field wall. The home runs were the third of the season for both Taylor and Fleming and the second for Schweisberger. As a team, the Tigers managed 11 hits and are averaging .340 on the season.
Delaney threw her third complete game of the season, striking out six and allowing only one walk. With a 4-1 record, Delaney owns a 0.91 ERA.
The Tigers will return home and host Western Illinois in an afternoon doubleheader Wednesday, March 18. Game one will begin at 2 p.m. with first pitch of game two slated for 4 p.m. Missouri will open Big 12 Conference action Saturday, March 20 against Texas at 2 p.m. (CT).