March 1, 2009
Box Score
San Diego, Calif. - Despite holding fourth-ranked UCLA to only three hits, the No. 12 Missouri softball team suffered a 2-1 loss to the Bruins in their fourth game of the San Diego Classic. Missouri, now 12-2 on the year, will wrap up the three day tournament with a 1:30 p.m. (CT) game against San Diego.
Missouri took the early lead when senior Andee Allen (Barnhart, Mo.) scored on designated player Micaela Miner's (Sanger, Texas) RBI single up the middle in the top of the first. Batting second in the lineup, Allen doubled to right field off of UCLA pitcher Whitney Baker and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Allen was one of only three Tigers to manage a hit in the morning game, while Baker held Missouri to its lowest hit total of the campaign, three.
UCLA erased Missouri's one run advantage scoring a single run in the bottom half of the first inning. Scoreless through five frames, the Bruins took the lead and eventual win when pinch runner Grace Murray scored from third on a wild pitch from Missouri freshman Chelsea Thomas (Pleasantville, Iowa).
Thomas was assigned the loss and stands at 5-2 on the year. The right-handed pitcher threw the complete 6.2 inning game, striking out seven, while forcing 11 groundouts and two flyouts. Thomas held the Bruins to their second lowest hit total of the season, three.
Sunday's loss marks Missouri's closest game with the Bruins since its 1991, 1-0, loss to UCLA. Additionally, the game marks the third in 10 meetings in which Missouri scored a run.
