April 18, 2009
Lubbock, Texas - Ranked as high as 10th in the nation, the Big 12 leading Missouri softball team managed 12 runs on 15 hits on the way to a shutout of Texas Tech at Rocky Johnson Field in Lubbock, Texas. Improving to 39-5 on the year, and 9-2 in Big 12 play, Missouri tied its season high for hits, while holding the Red Raiders to a mere three base knocks.
Senior pitcher Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich.) earned her 17th start of the season and 12th win of the campaign. Throwing three complete innings, Delaney struck out four of the 12 batters she faced before being relieved by freshman Chelsea Thomas (Pleasantville, Iowa) in the fourth. Thomas, making her first appearance in the circle since Missouri's March 21 game against Texas, twirled the final two innings striking out two and allowing one walk in two innings.
Bumping her average up to .452, sophomore first baseman Marla Schweisberger (Raytown, Mo.) jacked a two run home run in the third inning scoring Missouri's third and fourth runs of the game. Her seventh long ball of the year, Schweisberger took the 1-0 pitch deep over the fence sending in leftfielder Gina Schneider (Liberty, Mo.) from second base. Schneider bat second in the order and drove in leadoff batter Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) from second with her seventh double of the year.
After giving up four straight hits in the third and with Missouri runners in scoring position, Texas Tech Head Coach Amy Suiter was forced to turn to relief pitcher Karli Merlich in an attempt to shutdown the potent Tiger offense. Sophomore catcher Megan Christopher (Wright City, Mo.) was first to face off against Merlich and used her third pitch to rip a two run double. Christopher closed out the game with a 3-for-4 showing, scoring two runs and credited with three RBI.
Nine Tigers combined for 15 hits, with five managing multi-hit games. Schneider extended her hitting streak to five games with her 1-for-2 showing at the plate.
Missouri looks to complete its fourth Big 12 sweep of the campaign on Sunday as the Tigers once again battle with Texas Tech. First pitch is slated for a Noon (CT) start.