Tigers extend winning streak to 16 games
The No. 13 Missouri softball team began a busy weekend in winning fashion, defeating North Dakota State and Western Michigan in the opening games of the Wilson Classic on Friday at University Field. With the two wins, Missouri improved to 19-3 on the season and extended its winning streak to 16 games.
Missouri opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against North Dakota State, putting up four runs on three hits off of opposing pitcher Randi Parks. After Marla Schweisberger and Ashley Fleming reached on walks, senior Catherine Lee brought them both in with her third home run of the year. Sophomore Nicole Hudson added a solo dinger of her own in the very next-at bat to give Missouri a 4-0 lead. It was the first back-to-back homers for the Tigers since April 28 of last year.
Hudson then took the mound for Tigers, and struggled to keep the Bisons at bay. North Dakota State spotted her three runs in the top of the second inning, two of which came off fielding errors by Missouri. But Lisa Simmons (who earned her first win of the season) and Chelsea Thomas helped out in relief, and Missouri kept the Bisons off the scoreboard the rest of the way to earn the 4-3 victory.
The second game of the doubleheader began much like the first, with Missouri's offense swinging for the fences. The Tigers jumped on Western Michigan pitcher Meredith Whitney in the first inning and tallied five runs off of three hits. After Rhea Taylor made her way around the bases to score, Missouri loaded the bases for sophomore Princess Krebs. Krebs drove in a run with a single, and Lisa Simmons drove in another two during the next at-bat to give Missouri a 5-0 lead. The Tigers would add another four in the fourth to add to their lead before sophomore Rachel Hay solo homered in the fifth to extend their lead to 10-0. It was Hay's first career home run. Junior Kristen Nottelmann (9-0) was nearly untouchable on the mound, striking out eight and coming one out away from her second no-hitter of the year.
Missouri will continue tournament play with another doubleheader against North Dakota State and Western Michigan, starting at 1 pm on Saturday. They will then take on Minnesota at 1:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.