Mizzou Links, 6-1-09

Well, we're officially down to track & field remaining for this academic year, as the seasons for diamond sports came to a thudding end this weekend.

A nice mini-run in the Women's College World Series would have been icing on the cake, but it was not to be.  Two quick losses ended Mizzou's season, but no matter what the announcers might have suggested with condescending tone, Mizzou absolutely deserved to be there, and next time they won't be quite as "just happy to be there" as they maybe appeared this time around.  Links!

• Mutigers.com: Tigers fall 5-2, Eliminated from WCWS
• ESPN.com: Missouri has the tools to return to WCWS
• Post-Dispatch: Mizzou softball team looks like it has brighter days ahead

  The Tigers (50-12) lose four key seniors, including second-team All-America Lindsey Ubrun, 16-game winner Stacy Delaney, second base stalwart Andee Allen (Windsor High) and slugger Micaela Minner.
  
  But the Tigers return an ample nucleus, including freshman pitchers Chelsea Thomas and Kristin Nottelmann (Rockwood Summit), sophomore Schweisberger and .400-hitting sophomore flash Rhea Taylor.

• The Trib: MU softball team bows out
• The Trib: No regrets about decision [to start Chelsea Thomas against Georgia]
• The Missourian: Missouri sent home with second loss
• KC Star: Georgia eliminates Missouri from Women's College World Series
  
• Mutigers.com: Tiger Softball presents annual awards
  

Meanwhile, Mizzou baseball simply didn't have the tools, and deep down, we knew that heading into the weekend.  They needed a bit more offense and a LOT more pitching, and it just wasn't there.  Links!

• SimmonsField.com: It's over!  :-(
• Mutigers.com: Missouri's season ends after loss to WKU
• The Trib: Toppers topple Tigers in Oxford
• The Missourian: Missouri eliminated from NCAA baseball tournament
• KC Star: Western Kentucky eliminates MU baseball team

  Missouri’s lack of pitching depth and Western Kentucky’s hitting prowess proved to be a combination that ended the Tigers’ stay in the Oxford regional.
  
  ...
  
  "The bottom line is we were not as good as our opponent," Missouri coach Tim Jamieson said. "They outplayed us both times we played them."

• Post-Dispatch: Western Kentucky eliminates the Tigers
  

As if there were any doubt, it turns out that Ole Miss fans have fun in right field.

Matt Pell: New Mizzou Wrestling assistant

Finally, Dave Matter did his best to find some good Big 12 nonconference football matchups, and...well...it was pretty difficult.