Missouri softball drops series to Sooners

The Tigers lost their chance to place first in the Big 12.

By Greg Young

Published April 27, 2009

Going into the weekend series against the No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners, the Tigers could have virtually clinched the Big 12 title with a sweep.

But now, after being defeated in consecutive games against the Sooners 6-2 on Saturday and 4-2 on Sunday, the Tigers will have to compete for second place. The sweep puts them at 11-5 in the conference, which is only half of a game above Texas and Baylor.

The common thread in both games was the pitching of Oklahoma senior pitcher D.J. Mathis, who only allowed the Tigers' offense, which is ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 in almost every major offensive category, to two runs in each game. In both games combined, the former second-team All-American pitcher allowed 11 hits, gave up three walks and struck out eight.

Mathis said she treated Missouri's offense just like every other team she faces.

"It's not really any different coming in, it's just coming in and going after every hitter," Mathis said.

The one weakness of Mathis in both games was the long ball. All of the runs she gave up were because of home runs, including two by senior infielder Lindsey Ubrun and one by senior outfielder Micaela Minner.

Ubrun is the Tigers' leading home run hitter, and her solo shot in the fourth inning was her 13th home run of the season. She has hit home runs in five straight games.

"The mindset was trying to lay off that change-up that she throws so well," Ubrun said.

Initially, the Tigers' prospects in the first game looked good. They had a lead for a majority of the game behind the pitching of senior Stacy Delaney, who only allowed one run in the first inning after Oklahoma junior utility player Amber Flores bombed Delaney's second pitch into the stands.

In the sixth inning, with Missouri nursing a 2-1 lead, Missouri coach Ehren Earleywine took Delaney out of the game in favor of freshman pitcher Kristin Nottelmann. Initially the decision paid off, as Nottelmann retired the side in order in the sixth inning, including getting the ever-dangerous Flores to line out.

Nottelmann allowed runners to reach second and third and an error to start the seventh inning. Freshman pitcher Chelsea Thomas was called in to relieve Nottelmann. She threw a wild pitch that gave up a run and then retired the next batter before Nottelmann was brought back into the game.

After Nottelman retired one batter, she allowed an RBI single to sophomore outfielder Krystle Huey and a two-run homer to senior first baseman Samantha Ricketts.

After the onslaught in the seventh inning, the Tigers were down 6-2 and never threatened in the bottom of the inning.

"Obviously in hindsight I would have done something different," Earleywine said.

In the second game, Thomas started and took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks, but had no strikeouts. Thomas said she was still not fully recovered from her shoulder injury that kept her out for the majority of the last month.