Missouri 2013 Softball World Series Capsule

Missouri Tigers
SEC (35-11, 15-8)

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Coming off of a run to the SEC title game in their first season in the conference, the Tigers head into the postseason looking to make their fourth College World Series appearance in five years.  This regional has some really good pitchers in it, with Missouri's Chelsea Thomas and Hofstra's Olivia Galati, who has 374 strikeouts to just 29 walks. The Tigers, who are usually really tough at home, dropped five games in Columbia this season.

Big Wins: 2/22 Florida (4-3), 4/6 at Alabama (9-4), 4/19 at LSU (6-1)
Bad Losses: 2/23 at Cal State Fullerton (4-5), 4/13 Arkansas (1-4), 4/24 Western Kentucky (0-1)
Coach: Ehren Earleywine

Why They Can Surprise:

Unlike last season, the Tigers have had a offense that has shown up most days, including big games against teams that have good pitchers.  Last season was more of a 'well we have great pitching, hopefully we can get a few runs and they'll carry us.' This year, with last year's large group of freshmen a year older and experienced and a solid senior class, it has started to gel. Kelsea Roth and Nicole Hudson are the team's power hitters, while Jenna Marston is a doubles machine. Emily Crane sets everything up nicely at the top of the lineup and has found her niche as a slaphitter as a freshman. Missouri hasn't really had a burner on the basepaths since Rhea Taylor, but numerous players are capable of swiping a bag at any time. You can't really say anything that Thomas does is surprising, as she has been one of the country's top players in every season she's played. The U.S. National Team pitcher has been a strikeout machine throughout her entire career.

Why They Can Disappoint:

After Thomas, the Tigers don't really have a No. 2 pitcher. Bailey Erwin left the team early in the season and that knocked them down to just having Thomas as the only true pitcher. Hudson has been relegated to being the second pitcher and Earleywine has been forced to use her to rest Thomas who has battling a blister and arm fatigue this season. She hasn't been able to throw back-to-back games in recent months so she might need some explosive offense to help her out. As explosive as the offense has been, they've also been shut down in some games. They've scored two or fewer runs in six of their 11 losses.

Key Field Players:
Jenna Marston, Senior, C, .366 BA, 27 RBI
Corrin Genovese, Sophomore, SS, .333 BA, 19 RBI
Emily Crane, Freshman, OF, .373 BA, 25 RBI
Angela Randazzo, Sophomore, 3B/C, .333 BA, 8 HR, 47 RBI
Mackenzie Sykes, Junior, UT, .345 BA, 7 HR, 25 RBI
Nicole Hudson, Senior, 3B/OF, .323 BA, 15 HR, 43 RBI
Kelsea Roth, Sophomore, 1B, .317 BA, 15 HR, 41 RBI

Key Pitchers:
Chelsea Thomas, Senior, P, 1.23 ERA, 22-4 W/L, 15 CG, 170.1 IP, 205 SO
Nicole Hudson, Senior, P, 4.75 ERA, 10-5 W/L, 5 CG, 81.0 IP, 31 SO

By the Numbers:
Batting Average: .320 (19th in nation, 4th in conference)
Earned Run Average: 2.34 (43, 5)
Fielding Percentage: .962 (106, 10)
Scoring Offense: 6.67 (11, 4)
Home Runs per Game: 1.28 (15, 4)
Doubles per Game: 1.47 (31, 2)
Triples per Game: 0.07 (242, 13)
Stolen Bases per Game: 1.28 (63, 9)
Slugging Percentage: .525 (15, 4)
Double Plays per Game: 0.26 (132, 8)

Recent Postseason Appearances:

 
*all team stats through 5/5

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