Courtesy of Missouri Athletics
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Softball started its fall schedule with a bang on Friday at University Field, defeating Crowder College, 11-2, and Heartland Community College, 15-5. The Tigers, led by ninth-year head coach Ehren Earleywine, collected 29 hits over the two wins, including 18 to close the day vs. Heartland.
In Game One action vs. Crowder, Mizzou was powered by the debut of freshman P Paige Lowary (Dallas Center, Iowa), who threw 5.0 hitless innings with 10 strikeouts and just two walks allowed.
Run support game came from three Tigers with at least three RBI. Leading the way was senior 1B Kelsea Roth (Yorba Linda, Calif.), who batted 2-for-3 with four RBI, including a two-run home run in the top of the third inning. Redshirt junior SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) and sophomore 3B/2B Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.) totaled three RBI for the Mizzou cause. Fagan ripped two doubles in a 2-for-4 game, while Fleming batted 1-for-3 with a two-run triple to right field in the top of the fourth.
Also adding a long ball for the Tigers was senior C Alyssa Cousins (Carrollton, Texas), who went yard to lead off the Tigers in the top of the fifth. Mizzou’s other multi-hit game was laid down by redshirt junior OF Taylor Gadbois. A returning All-American, Gadbois hit 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
Game Two against Heartland Community College saw the return of sophomore P Tori Finucane to the circle for Mizzou. The SEC Freshman of the Year and a First Team All-SEC performer, Finucane missed Mizzou’s 2014 NCAA Regional appearance due to injury. The Tiger hurler dictated the action like normal, striking out six Heartland batters and allowing just one hit and one walk in 5.0 innings of shutout pitching.
The Tigers were led at the plate by freshman 1B/3B/RF Amanda Sanchez (West Covina, Calif.), who batted 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Sanchez rocked a home run down the right field line during the top of the sixth inning.
Seven other Tigers accumulated two-hit games vs. Heartland, including Gadbois, junior 2B/OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.), Fagan, senior IF Corrin Genovese (East Amherst, N.Y.), sophomore C Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.), sophomore 1B/P Jordan Zolman (Arbyrd, Mo.) and sophomore OF Anna Reed (Lonedell, Mo.). Mack smacked Mizzou’s other home run in the win, a two-run shot to left field in the top of the first.
Other big hits came from Fagan and Reed, who collected a double and triple, respectively. Gadbois also stole two bases to keep Heartland guessing on the base paths.
Sophomore P Cheyenne Baxter (Norborne, Mo.) relieved Lowary and Finucane in both wins and pitched 2.0 innings over the entire doubleheader.
Mizzou is back at University Field on Friday, Sept. 26, to face North Central Missouri College (3 p.m.) and Highland Community College (5 p.m.). Admission is free of charge.
