Missouri wins Big 12 title

Missouri pitcher Chelsea Thomas, center, celebrates with teammates at the end of the the Big 12 softball tournament championship game against Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 10, 2009. Thomas pitched two-hit shutout as Missouri defeated top-seeded Oklahoma 5-0 to win its first Big 12 softball title in 12 years. From left to right, Megan Christopher, Gina Schneider, Thomas and Abby Vock.

? Gina Schneider homered to back a two-hit shutout by freshman Chelsea Thomas as Missouri beat top-seeded Oklahoma, 5-0, Sunday to win its first Big 12 softball title in 12 years.

Thomas (13-4) struck out four and walked two in her third straight start without giving up a run. She has thrown 18 straight scoreless innings since losing to the Sooners, 4-2, two weeks ago.

Oklahoma had won six straight games against Missouri.

“I’m just really happy for our team,” Mizzou coach Ehren Earlywine said. “We let the Big 12 regular season title kind of slip through our fingers. This doesn’t totally make up for that, but it’s a good feeling because we wanted to compete against Oklahoma because they came into our home place and beat us twice.”