The Missouri softball team continued its dominant run Wednesday, run-ruling the Arkansas Razorbacks 12-0 in five innings for the team’s ninth consecutive victory.
Fresh off her second straight perfect game, sophomore pitcher Chelsea Thomas improved to 4-2 by allowing just two hits while striking out 10 during four innings of work. The offense carried the Tigers, putting up 12 runs on eight hits against Arkansas pitcher Kim Jones. Senior outfielder Rhea Taylor said the hitters didn’t let the cold weather affect their swings.
“We hit the ball really well today, especially since it’s like 30 degrees out here,” Taylor said. “It’s freezing. I just think that we have to push out all of the outside elements and focus on what we had to do. Our offense has definitely come around since the beginning of the year.”
Taylor became the all-time Big 12 leader in stolen bases in the first inning when she stole her 154th base of her career. The steal broke a tie for the record with Texas A&M’s Sharonda McDonald. Taylor downplayed the record after the game, but junior Ashley Fleming had praise for her teammate.
“I think what impresses me most is just how she’s so versatile,” Fleming said. “I think just last year she started hitting for power, and I’ve seen her make great improvements in the outfield since her freshman year. So it’s great to be around someone like that and have her at the top of our lineup starting things for us every day.”
Fleming led the offense with two hits and five runs batted in, including a three-run homer to open up the scoring in the first inning. Freshman Maddison Ruggeberg added a two-out single and Lindsey Muller drove in two runs with a double off the wall. Coach Ehren Earleywine said he was impressed with the rhythm of the first inning.
“They squared up to two or three balls on a 40-degree day with wind blowing and overcast (skies),” Earleywine said. “I’ve played this game, and it’s hard to hit when the weather is nice, much less a day like today. So it was a very impressive inning against a good SEC team. For the most part, had good at-bats all game.”
Missouri found itself in some trouble in the second inning after two fielding miscues loaded the bases with one out for Arkansas. But Thomas recovered and managed to get out of the jam by striking out the next two batters.
“In all the years that I’ve played, that was the one thing you could tell if you had a real stud on the mound,” Earleywine said. “Somebody gets into scoring position, and they shift gears and the hitters have no chance. And you saw that today. They had zero chance.”
Missouri has outscored its last five opponents by a score of 43-0. They take on Illinois State on Friday afternoon, the first of four games over the weekend for the Tigers. Fleming said the best is yet to come from the Missouri offense.
“I think a lot of people are starting to become more comfortable, which I think this early in the season is what you’re working on,” Fleming said. “(We’re) just getting comfortable, facing different pitches and finding your rhythm. You don’t want to be peaking in the beginning of the season, you want to peak at the end. I think we’re still starting to get where we need to be.”
