(Photo Courtesy of Missouri Athletics)
WACO, Texas – No. 14 Mizzou Softball improved to 4-0 with another two-game sweep at Baylor’s Getterman Classic, defeating both Lipscomb (8-0) and Drake (9-0) in five-inning, run rule-shortened contests. Redshirt sophomore SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) and senior OF Mackenzie Sykes (Blue Springs, Mo.) both finished the day batting 3-for-5 with three RBI. Sophomore 2B/OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) had the biggest RBI impact, recording five that included a grand slam against Lipscomb.
Runs were driven home in bunches by Crane during the first two innings of the win over Lipscomb (6-1). She started off the Tigers’ scoring with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning, using a long fly ball to center field to bring in redshirt sophomore OF Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.). In the second inning with bases loaded, a pair of hard hit balls became Lipscomb fielding errors that resulted in runs for Mizzou. Crane took her turn again, launching a grand slam home run to right field for her first long ball of 2014, giving Mizzou a 7-0 lead.
Mizzou tracked town the prerequisite eighth run for the run rule victory in the bottom of the fourth when Sykes smacked a double into right center field to score junior IF Corrin Genovese (East Amherst, N.Y.). Genovese pinch ran for junior 3B/C Angela Randazzo (Poway, Calif.), who reached first base on a Lipscomb fielding error.
Freshman P Tori Finucane (Germantown, Md.) did not give the LU squad much to connect with throughout her 5.0-inning start, surrendering just three hits and striking out two batters in the win (2-0).
Junior 1B Kelsea Roth (Yorba Linda, Calif.) was dialed in during the win over the Bison, batting 2-for-3 with one run scored.
The Tigers started their second game with a bang, dropping eight runs on Drake (0-8) in the opening frame. The Bulldogs helped the Tigers along their way with two walks and two hit-by-pitch batters making it on base. Fagan, Sykes and freshman IF/OF Kelli Schkade (Albany, Texas) did the hitting in the inning, with Schkade lacing a sharp line drive down the left field line for a two-RBI double to make it 8-0. The double was Schkade’s first collegiate hit.
Sykes added an insurance run in the top of the second inning with a solo shot home run to center field, setting the final score of 9-0.
Freshman P/OF/1B Casey Stangel (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) was top-notch in the circle for Mizzou, throwing 3.0 innings with zero hits allowed. Stangel (2-0) and senior P Alora Marble (Jefferson City, Mo.) combined to one-hit Drake, with Marble tossing the final 2.0 innings vs. the Bulldogs.
The Tigers finish the Getterman Classic with No. 16 Baylor on Sunday, Feb. 16, set for an 11 a.m. first pitch.
The Tigers’ first home contests of the 2014 season will be against SEC foe Kentucky from March 14-16 at University Field. Season ticket renewals are currently ongoing, along with additional season ticket requests being taken. More information can be found here. Contact the Mizzou Ticket Office by phone at 1-800-CAT-PAWS (573-884-7297 in Mid-Missouri).
