May 17, 2011

COLUMBIA, Mo. – For the second time this season, the Missouri softball team has swept the Big 12 Player and Pitcher of the Week awards, announced Tuesday by the conference office. Senior Lisa Simmons was named Player of the Week for the first time in her career, while redshirt sophomore Chelsea Thomas was picked as the conference's Pitcher of the Week for the sixth time this season. Missouri had more weekly award winners this season than any other Big 12 school with nine.

Simmons helped the Tigers to a perfect 3-0 week, guiding them to their first regular season Big 12 title in 14 years by hitting .667 (6-for-9) over the span of three games. With the Tigers down 1-0 against Oklahoma State, Simmons blasted a two run homer to put Missouri ahead, a lead they would never relinquish. In Saturday's doubleheader against Iowa State, the Boonville, Mo., native registered two hits and an RBI in each game to lift the Tigers to a sweep.

With a two wins in as many starts, Thomas was picked as the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week for the eighth time in her career, posting a 0.54 earned run average over the span of the week. She opened up with a complete game against then-No. 20 Oklahoma State, giving up just four hits and a first inning unearned run while striking out eight batters and walked two. On Saturday, Thomas started the first game of the doubleheader with Iowa State and tossed the first six innings, allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts to zero walks. The righty is tied for the NCAA lead with a 0.81 earned run average to go with her 27-5 record.

Simmons, Thomas and the rest of the Tiger squad open up postseason play on Friday with Illinois State at 6:30 p.m. CT in the first game of the NCAA Regionals. The fifth-seeded Tigers are hosting the Regionals for the third straight year in Columbia, Mo., at University Field.