Just four hours after throwing a complete game shutout against No. 4 Tennessee, senior pitcher Chelsea Thomas went back to the circle.
No. 3 Florida (51-7, 13-3 Southeastern Conference) chased Thomas from the game after a shaky second inning, and the Gators went on to win 10-4, giving them their third SEC tournament championship.
Thomas surrendered just one hit in her two innings pitched, but it was a two-run homer to Florida right fielder Kelsey Horton. The home run was her first long ball given up since April 7 and also snapped her 34 inning scoreless streak. The SEC Pitcher of the Year also surrendered a walk and threw two wild pitches in the inning, which turned out to be her last.
“I think it was pretty clear what happened,” Missouri coach Ehren Earleywine said. “We ran out of pitching.”
Thomas said she did not feel 100 percent in the second inning.
“I had trouble feeling my hand, so I was trying to deal with some symptoms and trying to stay healthy for postseason,” Thomas said.
The fact that Thomas struggled throwing two games does not bode well for Missouri (35-10, 15-8 SEC) going into Regionals, where playing two games in one day is just about guaranteed.
“One game a day, she can do that. Two games in one day, two good teams, not so much,” Earleywine said.
Missouri grabbed an early 2-0 lead on a first-inning double from senior Nicole Hudson and a second-inning solo home run from sophomore first baseman Kelsea Roth. The home run gave Roth one in each of Missouri’s three tournament games.
Florida then scored six straight runs — two off Thomas, two off senior pitcher Lindsey Muller, who faced just two batters, and two more off Hudson. Hudson pitched four innings, giving up six runs and seven hits.
Three of the Gators’ nine hits were home runs, with only one coming as a solo shot.
“Coach (Tim Walton) has been working with us on hitting,” Florida center fielder Kirsti Merritt said. “We hit almost every day. It wasn’t surprising that we’re all hitting so well. It was exciting that we came out here and did our thing.”
NCAA tournament brackets will be announced 9 p.m. Sunday. The Tigers are expected to host a Regional but are on the bubble when it comes to hosting a Super Regional. Regional play is expected to begin Friday.
“I probably won’t pick up a ball until Friday, honestly,” Thomas said. “I’ll try to work out and do what I can during practice without a ball. Hopefully that’ll get me ready for postseason.”
After facing three top 25 teams, two of them top 10, this weekend, NCAA tournament play will likely bring softer competition initially for Missouri, as none of the top 16 teams will play in the same Regional.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to go back-to-back-to-back,” Thomas said. “Two games, having to re-warm up and playing caliber teams like Tennessee, I rev. it up a little more than the average team. I’m pretty confident that I’ll be good to go three games in a row.”
