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Missouri made the trip to Alabama outscoring its opponents 102-6 in its previous 10 games. Not able to continue such domination, Missouri only managed one win in three attempts against the Crimson Tide this past weekend, dropping its first series of the season.
Saturday’s win seemed like the only time Missouri (23-4, 8-3 Southeastern Conference) could put it all together. The offense generated 10 hits, including two home runs, and senior pitcher Chelsea Thomas gave up five hits and zero runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched as Missouri won 9-4.
In the other two games, the combination of strong hitting and dominant pitching was not present. On Friday, the hitting suffered, while on Sunday Thomas pitched one of the worst games of her career.
In game one, Thomas gave up four runs on seven hits. The numbers are high by her standards, but four runs would seem bearable for a team averaging 7.5 runs per game on the season.
Instead, Missouri provided its worst offensive output of the season, managing just one run on five hits for a final score of 4-1. The Tigers batting average stood at just .179, well under the Mendoza Line.
In game three, Missouri’s offense needed no fine-tuning. Instead, Thomas struggled, giving up 11 hits and 11 earned runs, the most runs she’s ever given up in a single game at Missouri as the Tigers fell 14-6 in six innings.
Thomas’s Sunday performance could’ve stemmed from overuse. Thomas pitched 18 of the 18 2/3 possible innings in the series.
The only time Missouri coach Ehren Earleywine took her out over the weekend was in Saturday’s game with a 9-0 lead in the seventh, but promptly put her back in again after senior Nicole Hudson surrendered four runs in just two-thirds innings pitched. Thomas struck out the one batter she faced in mop-up duty.
Ever since the departure of sophomore pitcher Bailey Erwin due to her transfer in early March, Thomas has handled the brunt of the workload. She has started all 11 SEC games, completing four games and watching just over 11 of 64 innings from the dugout.
Thomas’s ERA skyrocketed during the series. She started the weekend with five earned runs and a 0.99 ERA in SEC games and stepped on the plane home with 20 earned runs and an ERA of 2.62.
A poor showing at Alabama doesn’t surprise college softball fans. The Crimson Tide is the defending National Champion and was ranked at No. 7 in last week’s ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, just one spot behind Missouri.
Alabama also possesses a home field advantage much greater than Missouri’s — 3,500 people attended Friday night’s game, dwarfing University Field’s capacity of 500.
After a tough series at Alabama, Missouri will enjoy a week away from SEC play until it hosts Arkansas next weekend. The Tigers travel to Kansas City for a mid-week double header at University of Missouri-Kansas City on Wednesday.