No. 13 Missouri Softball Takes Down George Mason, 11-2
The No. 13 Missouri softball team won its third game of the week after taking down George Mason 11-2 on Thursday.
In the first game of the week, the Tigers' offense was the headliner (even though pitcher Cierra Harrison allowed one hit), while their stout defense was the main takeaway from the second matchup. Thursday's contest was a bit more like the former, but pitcher Lilly Whitten also shined in her five innings.
Left fielder Mya Dodge turned on the scoreboard after a double off the wall sent first baseman Katie Chester home for the game's first score in the top of the second inning. The Tigers continued to claw in the Patriots in the third inning as right fielder Kayley Lenger, shortstop Jenna Laird, center fielder Alex Honnold and second baseman Maddie Gallagher each touched home to create a 5-0 lead.
After pulling off an improbable double play to send the offense back out, George Mason rode this quick burst of momentum by recording its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as left fielder Sydney Bales' double sent right fielder Elyssa DeRosa home with one out. Fortunately, Missouri pitcher Lilly Whitten couldn't have shaken it off any better as she struck out the next two batters to put the Tigers back in the batters box.
Whitten's recovery shifted the momentum almost immediately back to Mizzou as with one out, catcher Julia Crenshaw launched it over the left field wall for a solo home run. Shortly after, Laird's sacrifice fly brought in Dodge for the second run of the inning to increase the score to a comfortable 7-1.
The game's energy stayed with the Tigers from this point on as Dodge's double in the sixth inning sent all three base runners home. She later made her way back to home plate after an error to make the score 11-1. George Mason was able to add a run in the bottom half of the inning, but it wasn't enough to get rid of the run-rule and extend the game.
The Tigers are aiming to extend their win streak to four when they travel to Villanova March 30. However, as of today, the Wildcats have come out victorious in their last 12 contests.
HUNTER DE