March 9, 2010
Complete Game Notes 
Date: March 10, 2010
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Stadium: University Field
Game Time: 3:00 p.m. CT
Live Video: Mizzou-All Access
Live Audio: KCOU 88.1 FM
The No. 3 Missouri Tigers look to improve on their 10-game winning streak this Wednesday against Northern Iowa. The matchup will mark the first midweek action this season for the Tigers, as their scheduled doubleheader against SIU-Edwardsville last week was postponed until mid-April. This will be the fifth game of Mizzou's 16-game home stand.
Scouting the Panthers
Northern Iowa comes into the game sporting a 9-6 overall record, but has dropped five of their last six after starting the season 8-1.
Senior Jen Larsen powers the offensive attack, coming into the game with a batting average of .432. A starter in all 15 games this season, Larsen has connected on three doubles, a triple and a home run while plating 13 RBI. Junior Livi Abney leads the Panthers with four homers on the year, contributing to her team-high 1.063 slugging percentage. Larsen is also the team's ace in the circle, as she has a team-high five wins on the year with just one loss. In 37.1 innings, she's posted an ERA of 2.62 while throwing five complete games and three shutouts so far this season.
The All-Time Series
Missouri holds the all-time series advantage over Northern Iowa by a 22-6 margin. Three of UNI's five wins over the Tigers have come by a 3-2 final, occurring in 1986, 1988 and 2000. Their other two victories came by scores of 5-3 (1994), 7-5 (1996) and 8-6 (2000). Missouri has won the last three meetings, dating back to 2006 when they beat the Panthers 8-3 and 6-4 during the regular season.
Last Time They Met
The Tigers and Panthers met almost a year ago exactly, as they faced off on March 11 of last year. Mizzou's Gina Schneider ripped a two-run single in the fifth inning to hold off UNI and give Missouri the eventual 2-1 victory. Chelsea Thomas earned her ninth win of the season, pitching a complete game and striking out eight.
Mizzou Against the MVC
Missouri has had strong success against the Missouri Valley Conference, compiling a 135-46 record all-time against the league's ten programs. That record is good for a .746 winning percentage. The Tigers have won six in a row against the conference dating back to 2008. Mizzou's last loss against a MVC squad came in 2008 against Bradley, with the Tigers dropping a 5-4 decision.
Follow the Games
Live stats and score updates will be provided at www.mutigers.com. Mizzou All-Access will provide live video at www.mutigers.tv, and KCOU 88.1 FM will host live audio coverage at their website, www.kcou.fm
What's Next?
Following Missouri's midweek matchup against Northern Iowa, the Tigers will host their second of three straight tournaments this weekend, March 12-14. Mizzou will welcome, Bradley, Illinois, Illinois State, New Mexico and San Diego State to University Field for the three-day event.
TIGERS KEEP CLIMBING POLLS
Missouri has used their 10 straight victories to propel them in the national rankings. Following their 5-0 weekend at the 2010 NFCA Leadoff Classic, the Tigers' 4-0 showing at the Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament bumped the Tigers up once again. Sitting firm at No. 3 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings, Mizzou was bumped up one spot in the NFCA/USA Today rankings, now sitting at No. 3 in that poll as well. Washington and Arizona remain 1-2 both rankings.
TRACKING TAYLOR
After stealing her 100th career base at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, junior Rhea Taylor swiped two more this past weekend at the Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament. Now sitting at 102 career stolen bases, Taylor sits just eight shy of tying the all-time record at Missouri. Julie Link's 110 stolen bases are the most in Mizzou history. Link played for the Tigers from 1986-89. With Taylor's two runs scored this past weekend, the Buford, Ga., native now sits in seventh all-time, and is just nine runs away from sixth. She also sits at 173 career hits, nine away from moving into a tie for ninth, and her .510 career slugging percentage ranks her eighth all-time at Missouri.
SOFTBALL GOES 4-0 AT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS TOURNEY
The Mizzou softball team went a perfect 4-0 during the Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament, outscoring their four in-state foes by a 36-3 margin during the weekend. In game one against SLU, sophomore Chelsea Thomas threw her third career no-hitter, picking up her seventh victory on the season at Mizzou won 6-0. Thomas issued a leadoff walk to start the game, the only blemish against her perfect game bid. That leadoff walk was retired trying to steal second, as Thomas retired the next 20 straight to face the minimum.
On Saturday, the Tigers run-ruled both SEMO and Missouri State, 13-0 and 8-0 respectively. In the game against SEMO, freshman Lindsey Muller had a breakout performance, pitching a complete game shutout while striking out three and walking zero. She also powered the offense by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and four RBI, which included a three-run home run in the fifth inning. In game two, sophomore Kristin Nottelmann stifled the Bear offense, pitching all five innings while allowing just one hit and striking out seven. The hit she allowed was a bunt single, and was the only Missouri State runner she let on base.
The Tigers closed out the weekend with a 9-3 win over UMKC. Nottelmann earned the win on Sunday, her second of the weekend. She pitched four shutout innings of relief, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out four. Junior Marla Schweisberger and freshman Jenna Marston ignited the Missouri offense, as each went 2-for-4 on the day. Schweisberger doubled twice and drove in three runs, while Marston connected on her first career home run at MU, a three-run blast. On the weekend, the Tigers outscored their opponents 36-3, while outhitting their in-state foes by a 37-10 margin. Missouri's four pitchers combined for a 0.88 ERA, while recording three shutouts. The foursome also struck out 27 batters and walked just two.
SIU-EDWARDSVILLE DH POSTPONED
Missouri's doubleheader at SIU-Edwardsville, originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, has been postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday, April 13. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. CT.
