MU Softball

Tigers coach Ehren Earleywine said he has been experimenting with his lineup because he can't find consistency from his players.

Missouri held off host Iowa State 6-5 on Sunday to give Tigers freshman pitcher Bailey Erwin a victory in her first Big 12 Conference start.

The Tigers are now 35-10 overall and 12-7 in Big 12 play. They will continue their series against Iowa State at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Freshman Ashtin Stephens and sophomore Mackenzie Sykes, two of the Tigers' best offensive players this season, attended Blue Springs High School, where they led the Wildcats to an undefeated state championship season in 2009.

Missouri pitcher Chelsea Thomas fell to 18-7 and the Tigers slipped to 11-7 in Big 12 Conference play with a 2-1 loss to the Sooners on Sunday in Norman, Okla.

Redshirt freshmen Alyssa Cousins, Taylor Gadbois and Carlie Rose can feel left out at times, but they've used their situation not only to develop as softball players but to become closer friends.

Most people weren't talking about the highlights of the Tigers split with Texas Tech on Saturday. They were talking about the umpires and the reaction they drew from the teams and fans.

Friday's defeat marked the first game beyond the halfway point in the Tiger's 24-game conference schedule. The loss drops them from No. 2 to No. 3 in the Big 12.

Bailey Erwin is third on the the Tigers' depth chart, falling in line behind veterans Chelsea Thomas and Kristin Nottelmann. For someone with her unrefined physical tools, it is an excellent situation. It allows her some needed time to grow.

Missouri's 3-1 victory over Northern Iowa was personal for senior pitcher Kristin Nottelmann, who delivered her first pitch in a game since March 31.

Senior outfielder Ashley Fleming was named the USA Softball National Player of the Week, and junior Chelsea Thomas was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday.

Tigers ace Chelsea Thomas struck out nine Longhorn hitters Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas, to lead the No. 12 Tigers to a 2-0 victory against No. 3 Texas and 2-1 series win.

After All-American pitcher Chelsea Thomas uncharacteristically gave up five runs in the fifth inning, the Tigers fell to Texas 9-3.

Since Pete D’Amour became an official coach on the Tigers softball team in 2009, the team has reached the Women's College World Series three seasons in a row.

Thomas, a junior, is the second pitcher in Big 12 history to win Pitcher of the Week 10 times.

It was a great Sunday for Missouri softball player Nicole Hudson. A 7-0 victory gave the Tigers a three-game sweep of Baylor and just a few hours down the road, her father reopened his Domino's Pizza restaurant in Joplin that was destroyed by last year's tornado.

In the sixth inning with Missouri trailing 2-0, Nicole Hudson hit a grand slam over the right field fence to give the Tigers a 4-2 victory over Baylor on Saturday at University Field.

Junior Lindsey Muller hit a two-out grand slam in the fifth inning to help the Tigers beat the Bears 6-1 on Friday at University Field.

The Tigers won 4-2 and 7-0 Wednesday at University Field, but coach Ehren Earleywine said he was not satisfied with his team.

The Missouri softball team lost to Texas A&M 1-0 in eight innings Sunday in College Station, Texas.