April 18, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 11 ranked Missouri softball team won their fifth straight game as they swept past the Texas Tech Red Raiders (31-12) with a 5-2 victory on Sunday. Missouri's record now stands at 32-8 on the season and they move back to .500 in the Big 12 with a 5-5 record.
Sophomore Kristin Nottelmann earned her 11th win of the season, as she pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless ball out of the bullpen while allowing just two hits. The 11 wins tie Nottelmann's win mark last year when she went 11-2 as a freshman.
Senior Gina Schneider powered the offense with a three run blast in the third inning, her third home run and 14th driven in this season. Junior Rhea Taylor went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while also stealing two bases.
Texas Tech jumped out to the early lead, as they got an unearned run off of starter Jana Hainey in the first. A two out double set up the first run of the game, as the Red Raiders scored on a fielding error by Catherine Lee to go up 1-0.
Missouri tied it up in the bottom half off a sacrifice fly from junior Marla Schweisberger. After Taylor led off with a single and a stolen base, Lee walked and freshman Jenna Marston singled to load the bases. Schweisberger then hit a deep foul ball to right, which scored Taylor after a nice catch over the bullpen wall by the Red Raider right fielder.
Tech jumped back on top in the second, as they got the first home run of the season from Stephanie Drewry to make it a 2-1 game.
However, that would be the last time the Red Raiders scored, and the Tigers pummeled out four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead and secure the game.
Once again, Taylor kicked off the inning with single, and then swiped second for her 24th stolen base of the season. After Lee singled on a line drive off of the pitcher, she would also steal second base to set up runners on second and third with no outs. Marston hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Taylor, but Lee was thrown out trying to advance to third. With two outs, Schweisberger reached on an error and moved to third on freshman Nicole Hudson's double to the wall in left. With two on and two out, Schneider delivered with a blast over the left field wall on a 1-2 pitch, giving the Tigers some breathing room.
Hainey got the start for Missouri, as she went 2.1 innings while giving up three hits and two runs, one of which was earned. Freshman Lindsey Muller pitched the last 1.1 innings, as she allowed just one base runner and picked up the first save of her career.
Missouri gets back in action this week when they host a pair of doubleheaders. On Wednesday, Mizzou will host a split twin-bill when they take on Evansville at 3 p.m. CT and Missouri S&T at 5 p.m. CT. On Thursday, the Tigers come right back with two more, as they'll host Central Methodist beginning at 2 p.m. Stay tuned to mutigers.com for more information.