Mizzou Softball Goes 1-1 on Opening Day of Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
It was an up-and-down evening for No. 11/13 Mizzou softball, as it suffered its first loss of the season against San Diego State to start. However, the Tigers roared back late in their second game against Wisconsin to move to 11-1.
In Mizzou's first game, MU had plenty of opportunities to overtake San Diego State. The Tigers took a few of them, but the eight runners they left on base came back to bite them, as they fell 3-2 to the Aztecs.
Both starting pitchers -- Laurin Krings for Mizzou and Allie Light for San Diego State -- were in control to start the game. Light faced a little bit of trouble early on, but she was able to emerge unscathed each time. Jenna Laird ripped a double on the second pitch of the game, but that was the only hit Light allowed over the next two innings. The Tigers threatened in the third, as Julia Crenshaw stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners. However, Crenshaw flew out to center field, and the game remained scoreless.
Krings was pushing batters to two strikes consistently; seven of the first 10 Aztecs that Krings faced reached two-strike counts, and none of them recorded a hit. Five of them struck out, and the only baserunner Krings allowed over the first two and one-thirds innings reached on a hit-by-pitch.
That last two-thirds proved to make a huge difference. With two outs, two Aztecs reached base. Facing Mac Barbara, Krings worked another two-strike count. Krings had gotten out of so many situation like these unblemished...but not this one. Barbara cranked a home run to put San Diego State up 3-0.
It wasn't until the fifth inning where Mizzou really started to threaten. A big part of its early season success was plate discipline and aggressive base running, and it showed late in this game. After pitching four shutout innings, Light was relieved by Dee Dee Hernandez, who immediately faced trouble. A single, walk and bunt single loaded the bases with no outs, and Honnold hit a sacrifice fly to put Mizzou on the board.
Another part of the Tigers' success heading into Thursday was capitalizing with runners in scoring position. Unfortunately for Mizzou, it couldn't do that here. Sandwiched in-between a walk by Kara Daly were outs by Crenshaw and Gallagher on a strikeout and line out, respectively.
The only other run that was scored between either team was a solo home run by Kayley Lenger in the top of the sixth. While Daly kept the game alive in the bottom of the seventh with a two-strike, two-out single, Gallagher grounded out to end the game.
Krings threw seven strikeouts in six innings of work, with the only major blemish being the three-run home run she allowed to Barbara. Laird was the only Tiger to register multiple hits.
Mizzou's game against Wisconsin started off a lot more fruitfully. In the top of the first, Honnold reached base on a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch.
That'd be the only time a runner touched home plate for a while. Mizzou starting pitcher Cierra Harrison, who entered Thursday having opened the season with 21 straight scoreless innings, was dominant to start. Through four innings, Harrison allowed just two hits, both of which were singles, although she also gave up three walks (two of them were in five pitches or less).
The game also remained scoreless in large part because of Mizzou's inability to bring home runners in scoring position once again. In the top of the third, the Tigers had the bases loaded with one out, only for Daly and Gallagher to strike out. The following inning, Stefania Abruscato and Madison Walker reached base on singles, only to be stranded after Lenger struck out and Laird grounded out.
It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth where the dam finally broke for Harrison. Similarly to Krings against San Diego State, a home run changed the game late. This time, it was a solo shot from the nine-hitter, Ava Kuszak, to tie the game. It was the sophomore's second home run in 64 career at-bats, and it came at a wonderful time for the Badgers.
After Harrison allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth, she was pulled for Taylor Pannell. Harrison finished the evening having allowed just four hits in five innings of work with six strikeouts.
In the top of the seventh, the Tigers once again had an opportunity to strike with runners on the corners and two outs. Gallagher, who struck out with the bases loaded earlier in the game, brought home Laird on a single. Danielle Blackstun followed her not too long after, as she scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 Mizzou.
Although Pannell allowed a run in the bottom of the seventh, she eventually sealed the deal, and the Tigers moved to 11-1 on the season.
Like last game, Laird registered two hits. Unlike last game, she had company in the multi-hit club, as Walker also recorded two hits.
Mizzou will be back in action tomorrow for another doubleheader. The Tigers will face UCF at 7:30 p.m. CST and Cal State Fullerton at 10:30 p.m. CST.
