#12 Softball vs. Oregon

When I left my house last night for a late dinner,  Mizzou was leading 4-1 and seemed to be on their way to another solid win.  Another win...yes, they got that.  Solid?  Well, probably interesting is a better word for it.  The Tigers would have to come back TWICE against Oregon to seal a 8-7 win in 9 innings (more on the extra innings in a bit).  The Tigers now stand at 11-0

Chelsea Thomas got the start for the Tigers, and though she gave up a run in the 2nd, she had settled down and was cruising along.  The Tigers erased the early deficit with two runs in the third and two more in the 5th to make it 4-1.  There, she would give up 5 runs and suddenly Mizzou was down 6-4.  To the top of the 7th they would go where Mizzou would push the tying two runs across on a Julie Silver 1-out homerun.  Thomas (still in the game) would get the Tigers to extra innings, where the new rule (started last season) is that the inning starts with a runner on 2nd base.  Each team can choose where in the lineup they want to start, regardless of where they finished the previous inning.  The teams traded runs in the 8th, with Hainey coming in to relieve Thomas.  Mizzou would get another run in the 9th, and Hainey would manage to hold the Ducks scoreless to seal the win, her third on the season.

At the dish, Rhea Taylor did start the game and went 3-5 with 3 runs scored from the leadoff spot, also stealing 3 bases.  It is easy to see why I was slightly concerned with her somewhat prolonged (and unreported) absence.  Previous leadoff hitter Shana White moved down to the second spot, and had two more SB's herself, as the team combined for 7 SB's on the day.  Julie Silver of course had the big hit of the game (a pinch hit HR no less) and super senior Michaela Minner would also drive in two runs on the evening.

The Tigers have two games later this afternoon and evening in back-to-back fashion, as they will take on the Broncos of Santa Clara (1 win currently on the season) at 4:00 p.m., followed by San Diego State at 6:30 p.m.  The Aztecs are just under .500, but do hold a 5-4 win over the now 6-11  Ducks.