(Photo Courtesy of Missouri Athletics)
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – No. 16 Mizzou Softball battled undefeated and No. 8-ranked UCLA (13-0) to the very end, dropping a 4-3 result to the Bruins on a game-winning double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Tigers were led by strong performances from redshirt sophomore OF Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) and redshirt sophomore SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.), who both batted 2-for-4.
The Tigers started with a 1-0 lead after the first inning, with both Gadbois and Fagan recording singles. A groundout by senior OF Mackenzie Sykes (Blue Springs, Mo.) to UCLA’s shortstop was able to score Gadbois from third base.
Mizzou mounted a response in the top of the third inning after UCLA took a 2-1 advantage after the second inning. The Gadbois-Fagan tandem were the Tigers’ baserunners, with senior OF Mackenzie Sykes (Blue Springs, Mo.) coming through with a two-out, two-RBI single to give Mizzou a 3-2 lead.
The Tigers’ two freshman hurlers, Casey Stangel (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) and Tori Finucane (Germantown, Md.), combined to keep UCLA in check for the majority of the contest. Stangel put in 4.0 innings of work, allowing two hits and two runs. Finucane entered in relief and worked 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and two walks before allowing UCLA’s only hit off of her, the game-winner.
Head coach Ehren Earleywine’s squad finished the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a 3-2 record to improve its overall season mark to 7-3. Gadbois batted an outstanding .563 (9-for-16) over Mizzou’s five games, while Sykes hit an impressive .462 (6-for-13) with two doubles to her credit. Finucane posted a 2-1 record in three appearances with 15 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched.
Mizzou is next in action at the Citrus Classic in Kissimmee, Fla., from Friday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 2. The Tigers will face Bradley, Syracuse (Friday, 4:45 p.m. CT, ESPN3), Illinois State, Radford and Ohio State in the event.
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).
