Tigers slip past upset Eagles

Despite victory, coach Earleywine was frustrated with teams' performance.

By Zach Mink

Published April 30, 2010

The No. 10 Tigers won Thursday against Central Methodist, scrapping for a 5-0 victory. However, the win was not something coach Ehren Earleywine was proud of.

"There was really no bright spots today," Earleywine said. "We come off a great day hitting yesterday, and then to walk out there and look like that for five innings is just embarrassing."

The Tigers failed to get on the board until the fifth inning, when freshman shortstop Jenna Marston drove in the first run with an RBI groundout. A single and a walk loaded the bases for freshman third baseman Nicole Hudson, who delivered the decisive blow with a three-run double to increase the Tiger lead to 4-0.

Junior catcher Megan Christopher tacked on a solo home run an inning later to put the game out of reach.

Junior outfielder Rhea Taylor was one of the few bright spots in the Tiger lineup, going 2-for-3 on the day.

Taylor, who broke the Missouri all-time runs scored record this week, felt concentration was what the Tigers needed to improve on the most.

"It's not about getting up against a team like Central Methodist,” Taylor said. “It's about focusing and concentrating. You know there's a slower pitcher out there, and we don't see slow pitchers in the Big 12, but we just need to lock in and concentrate. We were ready for the game, we just needed to concentrate."

Earleywine walked out of the postgame team conference, which was a first for many of the players, and expressed his frustration at the continued lackluster performance against less talented teams.

"When I played men's fast-pitch softball for some of the top teams in the world, teams like this would come in and play us and it was all they could do not to get someone hurt," Earleywine said. "We were absolutely killing those teams, and that's how it should be here."

Despite the continued offensive woes, the Tiger pitching staff continued to shine. Sophomore pitcher Kristin Nottelmann came one batter shy of her second no-hitter of the season, giving up a sole hit to junior utility player Amber Pinson, her first of the season.

Nottelmann went all seven innings for the complete game shutout and struck out 11 batters with only two walks. Nottelmann was disappointed with the one-hitter, but was still pleased with her performance against the Eagles.

"It's always disappointing when that happens, but I threw well, so I can't really complain," Nottelmann said. "My riseball was finally working again. I struggled with it at Texas A&M, so I made sure I worked on that and it was nice to have it back in full swing."

The Tigers (39-9, 8-6 Big 12) play their final games at home this weekend as they square off against Baylor. The Bears come in with a 6-9 record in conference.

Earleywine felt his team needed to concentrate to have a chance this weekend.

"Its not about ability, it’s about concentration," Earleywine said. "If they want to concentrate this weekend they will do well, and if they don't, we will get smashed."

Game one begins 2 p.m. Saturday at University Field.