March 20, 2009
Columbia, Mo. -- Missouri, 25-3, will take on Texas, 21-10, Saturday, March 21, at 2 p.m. (CT) on University Field to open up Big 12 play. The Tigers come in riding an 11 game win streak, with two of the wins coming against 18th ranked North Carolina. Missouri looks to carry that momentum into the game tomorrow as they face a Texas team who has posted a 5-5 record in its last 10 games.
On the mound, freshman Chelsea Thomas has been the go to pitcher for the Tigers all year. In 13 appearances, she has posted 10-2 record with an ERA of 1.00 and a team high 68 strikeouts. Joining her is junior Jana Hainey, who is 6-0 in 11 appearances with an ERA of 1.07. As a team, the Tigers have an ERA of 0.96 while striking out 170 and only giving up a 119 hits.
Sophomore Brittany Barnhill and junior Torrey Schroeder have led the pitching attack for the Longhorns this season accumulating 19 of the team's 21 wins. Barnhill has a record of 10-5 while posting an ERA of 2.82 with 62 strikeouts, while Schroeder has put up a record of 9-3 with an ERA of 3.14 and 54 strikeouts. Texas' team strikeout total is 137 with an ERA of 2.96 while giving up 195 hits.
Mizzou has also put up impressive numbers at the plate posting a team batting average of .345 with 42 doubles, 19 homeruns, and 165 RBI. Leading the offense for the Tigers is sophomore Rhea Taylor, sophomore Marla Schweisberger, and senior Micaela Minner. Rhea has a .446 batting average, three homeruns, and 26 runs scored. Schweisberger has posted a .429 batting average, four doubles, and 21 RBI, while Minner's batting average is at .418 with five homeruns and 31 RBI. Sophomore Shana White has also been impressive with a batting average of .475 while scoring 19 runs.
The Longhorns' greatest offensive threat comes in junior Loryn Johnson who has posted a batting average of .412 with six doubles and 25 RBI. Also a force at the plate, senior Desiree Williams has a batting average at .337 with eight homeruns and 22 RBI. Texas has a team batting average at .297 with 33 doubles, 29 homeruns, and 141 RBI.
The Tigers will also face the Longhorns this Sunday at Noon to finish out the series. Mizzou will head down to Texas to face Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday to start a six game road stretch.