Missouri softball beats New Mexico
The Missouri softball team fought through an impressive performance by New Mexico starter sophomore Samantha Gatson and an extended rain delay to defeat the Lobos 2-0, earning a victory in its first game of the Children's Hospital Invitational and extending its winning streak to 12 games.
Sophomore pitcher Kristin Nottelmann started for Missouri, yielding three hits in four innings before the rain halted the action for an hour and six minutes. When the action resumed, sophomore pitcher Chelsea Thomas relieved Nottleman. Thomas pitched three shutout innings to pick up the win, her eighth of the season.
Though the pitching was firing on all cylinders from the game's start, it took six innings for the Tigers to break through on offense. Junior left fielder Marla Schweisberger led off the inning with just the second hit of the game for Missouri.
After junior pinch-runner Shana White stole second and advanced to third on a groundout, sophomore right fielder Ashley Fleming drove in the game's first run on a grounder through the hole on the left side. Two at-bats later, freshman shortstop Jenna Marston added an insurance run, socking a line drive to the right-center gap that plated Fleming.
Missouri's scheduled matchup against Baylor was postponed due to the inclement weather. No makeup date has been announced. The Tigers are slated to take on San Diego State at 12 p.m. and No. 25 Illinois at 2 p.m. on Saturday.