(Photo Courtesy of Missouri Athletics)
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – No. 16 Mizzou Softball put up runs in bunches in its second day of action at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, defeating both Fordham and San Diego State in five innings by scores of 8-0 and 11-2, respectively. Four different Tigers recorded three hits over the two games, including senior OF Mackenzie Sykes (Blue Springs, Mo.), who batted 3-for-3 with two RBI in the win over SDSU. Redshirt sophomore OF Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) and sophomore 2B/OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) both hit 3-for-5, while junior 3B/C Angela Randazzo (Poway, Calif.) batted 3-for-6.
Mizzou started its scoring against Fordham (5-7) in the third inning with Crane, who singled through the right side to bring around Gadbois for a 1-0 lead. Gadbois recorded an infield single and stole second base to set up the score.
The Tigers added three runs in the bottom of the fourth, first with a two-run home run from freshman P/OF/1B Casey Stangel (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho), the first long ball of her career. The home run scored junior IF Corrin Genovese (East Amherst, N.Y.), who pinch ran for a Randazzo single to center field. The third run of the inning was redshirt sophomore C/OF Carlie Rose (Nixa, Mo.), who scored from second base after Gadbois singled to first base and Fordham commited a fielding error.
Mizzou closed out the win in the fifth inning with an additional four runs. With Crane and Roth on base and zero outs, Randazzo doubled to deep right center field to score the two Tigers. A Fordham throwing error sent the ball out of play and allowed Randazzo the right of way to head home for a 7-0 advantage.
Sophomore OF Sarah Moore (Chino Hills, Calif.), Stangel and redshirt sophomore C Alyssa Cousins (Carrollton, Texas) earned subsequent walks in the inning. With two outs, redshirt sophomore SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) flied a ball to left field that was midhandled by Fordham for an error. Moore trotted home for the game-ending eighth run.
Senior P Alora Marble (Jefferson City, Mo.) made her first start wearing the Black & Gold, throwing the 5.0-inning complete game shutout. Marble allowed just two hits in the win (1-0).
After allowing two runs to San Diego State (9-4) in the opening frame of its second game, Mizzou responded with four runs of its own in the first inning. Gadbois, Fagan, Crane and Sykes all recorded singles in the inning.
Freshman pitcher Tori Finucane (Germantown, Md.) settled into a groove after yielding a single earned run in the first inning, allowing only three Aztec baserunners during her next 3.0 innings of work. Finucane earned the win (4-1) with 4.0 innings pitch, five strikeouts and five hits allowed. Stangel tossed the final frame, recording three-straight outs.
Mizzou poured on five more runs in the bottom of the third, with Sykes, freshman C Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.), freshman IF/OF Kelli Schkade (Albany, Texas) and Crane recording hits. Mack and Crane recorded two-RBI doubles in the inning.
The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sykes and freshman 3B/2B Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.) recorded the hits to knock around SDSU walks to set the final score of 11-2. Fleming’s single to second base was her first collegiate hit.
Mizzou finishes the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with No. 8 UCLA at 4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 22.
