Missouri softball's Thomas throws perfect game against Drake
Sophomore Chelsea Thomas made her long-awaited return in front of the home fans a special one, throwing a perfect game against Drake University in the home opener for the Missouri softball team Wednesday afternoon. In only her third start since returning from a stress fracture that kept her out for most of last season, Thomas struck out 11 en route to a 5-0 victory for the Tigers. It was the first perfect game for the program since 2002, and the first seven-inning perfect game for a Missouri pitcher since 1991.
Thomas came out of the gates strong, striking out six batters through three innings. But the Missouri offense couldn’t get on the scoreboard through the first three innings, continuing a lack of run support plaguing Thomas early this season. But the Tigers managed to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, and senior centerfielder Rhea Taylor hit a grand slam over the right centerfield fence to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead. Nicole Hudson added a solo homer of her own in the fifth to widen the Tigers’ lead to five.
Enjoying her biggest lead of the year, Thomas blanked Drake over the next few innings and entered the final inning with three outs between her and perfection. She induced three quick groundouts, finishing off the perfect game before getting mobbed by her teammates by the dugout. Her final line was seven innings pitched, with no hits, no runs and eleven strikeouts. Junior Kristina Nottelman was scheduled to pitch the second game of the doubleheader against Drake later in the evening.