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Held scoreless through eight innings on Saturday, Missouri needed just one ninth-inning pitch to claim a spot in the finals of the Columbia Regional.

Ashley Fleming sent the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth over the fence in right, giving Missouri a 1-0 win over DePaul. The Tigers are now one victory away from their fifth consecutive regional championship.

Missouri's Chelsea Thomas earned her 25th win of the season, striking out 10 batters in nine scoreless innings. Thomas allowed just five hits and did not walk a batter.

Missouri (45-12) will play Illinois State at 2:00 on Sunday in the regional championship round. The Tigers defeated the Redbirds 6-0 in their regional opener on Friday. Illinois State would need to beat Missouri twice to advance to the Super Regionals.