Missouri Softball Takes Down Liberty and South Alabama, Moves to 4-0
On the second day of the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, Mizzou softball did exactly what it did the day before: go 2-0.
With a run-rule win over Liberty and a thrilling last-inning explosions against South Alabama, Mizzou improved to 4-0 on the season.
The day didn't start on a high note, as Liberty threatened early in their afternoon contest. Rachel Roupe reached base on a single, then advanced to second on an error by Julia Crenshaw. The next batter, Sierra Kersten, ripped a single to left, and Roupe rounded third and headed for home. Unfortunately for Roupe, Chantice Phillips unleashed a frozen rupe to nail Roupe at the plate.
In the ensuing half-inning, Missouri drew first blood within two at-bats. After Jenna Laird led off the inning with a walk, Alex Honnold sent a high riseball high and far away. The ball snuck inside the foul pole in right and just over the fence to give Mizzou a 2-0 lead.
After Laurin Krings struck out the side in the top of the second, Mizzou quickly added on to their lead. Mya Dodge led off the inning with a walk, then stole second. Phillips then laid down a bunt that moved Dodge over to third (Phillips also made it safely to first), where she then waltzed home after a double from Maddie Gallagher. Two batters later, Madison Walker scored Phillips on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The third inning saw Mizzou blow the game open. After Crenshaw reached first base on a catcher's interference, she scored all the way from first on a double by Katie Chester. Freshman Danielle Blackstun came in to pinch run for Chester, but she only ended up having to jog, as Dodge cranked a home run over the scoreboard in right field to put the Tigers up 6-0.
A few batters later, Honnold stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. She drilled a pitch that was left right over the plate high and deep into center field, sending Mary Claire Wilson back towards the wall. The ball landed just short of a grand slam, but it hit off the wall, scoring two runners. Two batters later, Kara Daly scored Laird from third on a sacrifice fly to make it 10-0 Mizzou.
The only run the Flames could kindle was a solo home run from Roupe in the top of the fourth. Needing just one more run to keep the game going in the top of the fifth, Krings struck out JaMaya Byrum, forced KK Madrey into a ground out and struck out Raigan Barrett to end the game early.
In five innings of work, Krings allowed just four hits and one earned run while putting out 10 Flames with strikeouts.
Mizzou's second contest of the day against South Alabama didn't start nearly as well as it did in their previous game. After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, the Jaguars pounced first in the bottom of the second, when Olivia Branstetter hit a solo home run off of Marissa McCann. In the following half-inning, USA added two more via two RBI singles from Gabby Stagner and Sasha Willems, respectively.
However, the Tigers responded right away in the top of the fourth. After Walker reached first on a hit-by-pitch, Kara Daly blasted one over the fence in center field to bring Mizzou within one.
Both teams went quiet in the fifth inning, and urgency began to build for Mizzou. That urgency turned into production in the top of the sixth. They loaded the bases with one out off of two singles by Honnold and Crenshaw as well as a Walker walk in-between. Katie Chester struck out looking for out number two, thus putting the onus on Dodge to capitalize on a golden opportunity.
Luckily, Dodge didn't actually have to swing her bat, as a wild pitch from Olivia Lackie scored Honnold from third.
Cierra Harrison put together a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the sixth, setting Mizzou up to pull ahead in the seventh, and they did just that. With runners on the corners and one out, Walker hit a fly ball deep enough into left to score Laird from third, putting the Tigers up 4-3.
After Honnold advanced to third on a wild pitch, Daly put the nail in the coffin. She hit a tank over the left field fence to put Mizzou up 6-3. Harrison sealed the deal in the bottom of the seventh, and the Tigers moved to 4-0.
Daly and Honnold led the way with two hits apiece, and Daly led the team in RBIs with four. Marissa McCann had an up-and-down inaugural college start, striking out five in three innings while also allowing four hits and three earned runs. Harrison relieved McCann exceptionally, allowing just one hit over four innings of work.
The Tigers will be back in action tomorrow morning against Clemson at 9:03 a.m. CT.
