March 14, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 3 Missouri softball team (16-2) gave up just two runs in two games and extended their winning streak to 14 straight, knocking off Illinois State, 3-1, and Bradley, 9-1, to close out the Children's Hospital Invitational.
In a cold, rainy weekend riddled with postponed and cancellations, the Tigers were able to get two of their games in on Sunday. In game one against Illinois State, sophomore Chelsea Thomas (9-1) went the distance for her ninth victory of the season, striking out a career high 14 batters in the process. Thomas' previous career high was 12, which she achieved in the season opener against then-No. 2 Alabama earlier this season.
After Illinois State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, Missouri bounced back with two runs in the bottom half to take the lead. Freshman Jenna Marston ripped an opposite-field double to kick off the frame, and after being moved over the third, scored Mizzou's first run of the game on freshman Nicole Hudson's sacrifice fly. The next hitter, junior Catherine Lee, then delivered her first home run as a Tiger, giving Missouri their first lead of the day. The Georgia State transfer connected on the first pitch she saw and sent it high over the left field wall.
Mizzou would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth for their third and final run of the game. Junior Kathryn Poet, getting her first action of the season after recovering from injury, swung at the first pitch she saw and blooped it into right field to score junior Rhea Taylor.
Thomas struck out the side in each of the first two innings and recorded 10 of her first 14 outs via strikeout.
In game two, the Missouri offense jumped all over Bradley, backing sophomore Kristin Nottelmann who secured her fourth win of the season.
Mizzou's first run came on an error by Bradley's catcher, putting the Tigers up 1-0. Taylor singled to lead off the game, and then stole second base. After Marston walked, her and Taylor took off on a double steal. The Bradley catcher tried to get Taylor at third, but the third baseman slow covering the bag and the throw sailed into left, allowing Taylor to score.
The Tigers plated five in the second, highlighted by Marston's three-run home run to left field. After the first three Tigers reached, junior Abby Vock hit a deep fly ball to right field that was caught just shy of the wall, driving in a run. Two batters later, Marston crushed a 1-1 pitch to the opposite field, putting Mizzou up 5-0. After the next two batters reached, senior Michaele Vock singled up the middle, scoring another run.
Missouri kept the offense rolling into the third, starting with Hudson's solo home run to lead off the inning. With two outs and a runner on, Taylor roped a line drive off the wall in left-center. The ball ricocheted off the wall and past the center fielder, and Taylor used her speed to come all the way around and score for an inside-the-park two-run home run.
Bradley scored one unearned run in the top of the fifth, but senior Jana Hainey shut the Braves down to seal the 9-1, run-rule victory for the Tigers.
The Tigers will continue play this Wednesday against Wichita State in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m. CT at University Field. Stay tuned to mutigers.com for more information.