Cowgirls Nearly No-Hit in 5-0 Loss to Missouri

OSU had only one baserunner all day thanks to a single in the second inning.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:22 pm

By: News On 6

Cowgirls Nearly No-Hit in 5-0 Loss to Missouri

Originally Published: Apr 30, 2011 6:7 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State softball team narrowly avoided being no-hit in a 5-0 loss to Missouri Saturday.

The Cowgirls came into the day on a three-game winning streak, but it was clear from the outset that they were overmatched by Missouri starter Chelsea Thomas. She struck out the first three batters she faced while throwing only three pitches out of the strike zone, and she cruised from there.

Julie Ward connected on a single up the middle on the first pitch of the second inning, but she turned out to be OSU’s only baserunner all day. Ward advanced to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt, but Thomas recovered to strike out the next two batters and end the inning.

Thomas pitched a complete game, and she struck out 13 of the 22 batters she faced. She did not need much run support, but the Tigers provided some anyway.

The scoring started in the first inning with an RBI single by Nicole Hudson. Missouri went on to load the bases later in the inning, and Princess Krebs was hit by a pitch to drive in another run for an early 2-0 lead.

The Tigers went on to add one run in each of the third, sixth and seventh innings. Krebs drove in her second run of the game with a solo home run, and Ashley Fleming finished the scoring with an RBI double.

The loss ended the Cowgirls’ three-game winning streak and marked the fifth time this season they have been shut out. The teams will finish their two-game series at noon Sunday.