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Redbirds fall 6-0 to No. 9 Missouri in NCAA opener
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[May 19, 2012]
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Illinois
State offense could get nothing going against No. 9 Missouri and its
starting pitcher Chelsea Thomas, as the Redbirds were held to just
three hits in a 6-0 loss to the Tigers in their opening game of the NCAA
regional Friday evening in Columbia, Mo.
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 ISU (35-22) saw its best scoring opportunity come in the top of
the first, when junior Jhavon Hamilton led off the game with a walk,
stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, Thomas
recorded back-to-back strikeouts to strand Hamilton 60 feet away.
Missouri (44-12) plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to
take an early 2-0 lead. Mackenzie Sykes led off the frame with a
walk and Jenna Marston reached on a fielder's choice before Ashley
Fleming cleared the bases with a two-run double to left center.
Both pitchers settled in after the first, and neither team would
score again until Missouri manufactured a run in its half of the
fifth. Kayla Kingsley started the inning with a bunt single to third
and advanced to third base when Corrin Genovese reached on a
two-base throwing error by Redbird starter Jordan Birch. Two batters
later, Kingsley scored on a sacrifice fly from Sykes to push the MU
advantage to 3-0.
The Tiger bats came alive in the sixth, as Missouri plate three more
runs on six hits, including a two-run homer by Kelsea Roth that
chased Birch. Megan Warner came out of the bullpen and surrendered
three hits, including an RBI single by pinch hitter Angela Randazzo,
before finally getting out of the inning.
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Thomas surrendered just two hits and struck out six in her six
innings of work to earn the victory in the circle. Bailey Erwin
tossed the final inning for the Tigers, allowing a two-out,
infield single to sophomore Kolby Hoffman, before sealing the
win.
Illinois State will play at 5:30 p.m. against Massachusetts, which
fell to DePaul 3-0 in Friday's opening game. Missouri moves on
to play the Blue Demons in Saturday's opening contest, scheduled
for 3 p.m.
[Text from
news release received from John Twork, graduate assistant,
athletics communications, Illinois State University]
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