Outlook: As the left-handed ace on Missouri's pitching staff, Erica Peterson proved a tough challenge for Big 12 opponents last season. She finished the season strong by shutting out conference champion Nebraska in Lincoln, and earned all tournament honors at the Big 12 tournament.
"Erica continues to develop as a crafty left-handed pitcher in the competitive Big 12 conference," Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "She is enjoyable to watch and easy to coach. Erica picks up on new skills quickly and she does so with a contagious enthusiasm."
2004: Missouri's top relief pitcher, Peterson worked 73.2 innings, sporting a 3-4 record and 2.85 ERA. In her 37 appearances, Peterson started seven of the Tigers' games, shutting out No. 13 Nebraska on two hits in Lincoln on May 9, to end the competitive Big 12 regular season. The 1-0 win earned Peterson the respect of the Conference as she was awarded Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors on May 11. A southpaw, Peterson made her first start on the mound on Feb. 14 against Santa Clara at the Stanford Invitational and pitched for three innings with two strikeouts. Peterson's top strikeout performance came May 21, at the NCAA Regional Tournament in Los Angeles. Twirling for 5.2 innings against Mississippi Valley State, Peterson recorded a season-high seven strikeouts bringing her 2004 total to 78. The talented freshman closed Missouri's opening game of the Big 12 Softball Conference Championships on May 13 against Oklahoma State, to earn her second win of the season. In her next appearance on the mound, Peterson tossed the final 6.2 innings of Missouri's 13-inning game against Oklahoma in the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference Championships, allowing only five hits and no runs to secure the win. Peterson helped Missouri to two, three up, three down innings against Nebraska racking up five strikeouts in 2.2 innings as Missouri's closer in the Big 12 Championship game. For her efforts on the mound, Peterson was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament team and closed her campaign 2-1 against ranked opponents. Peterson made her final start as a rookie on May 21 against Mississippi Valley State in the Tigers' second consecutive NCAA Regional tournament appearance.
Honors: Big 12 All-Tournament Team, Big 12 Pitcher-of-the Week
Coppell High School: A pitcher for the Coppell High School Cowgirls, Erica Peterson was coached by Connie Hogan in Irving, Texas, and was a member of the 2001 State Championship team her sophomore year. Ranked third by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA), Peterson was the team's most valuable player in 2003 and was named an NFCA Academic All-American in 2001 and 2002. Peterson was a member of the All-Area Second Team as a senior in 2003. She also competed for a year in volleyball. Peterson played with the Texas Storm Gold Team coached by Larry Durham.
Personal: Born Dec. 12, 1984, in Noblesville, Ind., to parents John and Julie Peterson, Erica has one sister, Erin (22) and is majoring in journalism wth a minor in creative writing.
