March 21, 2014
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery 
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#18 Mizzou 11, Ball State 3 (6)
Box Score
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Time: 1:57
Att.: -- |
| |
| Ball State |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X |
3 |
| MIZZOU |
3 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
X |
11 |
| IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| W - Stangel (9-4) |
4.0 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| L - Steinbach (5-5) |
5.1 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
5 |
1 |
| AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
HR |
| MIZ - Gadbois (3-for-4) |
4 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| MIZ - Sykes (3-for-4) |
4 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
COLUMBIA, Mo.- Senior OF Mackenzie Sykes (Blue Springs, Mo.) went 3-for-4 at the plate and recorded a career-high five RBI, powering No. 18 Mizzou Softball to a six-inning, 11-3 opening victory over Ball State in the Mizzou Tournament. After notching 26 total RBI last season, Sykes has already smacked 25 in 2014. The Tigers (19-7 overall) have now won three games in a row.
Mizzou's starting pitcher, freshman Casey Stangel (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) worked out of a jam in the opening frame, allowing just two runs to cross the plate despite the first two Cardinal batters reaching base. Stangel grinded through four innings on the bump, striking out two and issuing zero walks, to earn the win (9-4).
The Tigers answered back in the bottom half of the first. Redshirt sophomore OF Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) got things started with a bunt single. The speedy sophomore extended her 22-game hitting streak with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Gadbois immediately swiped second base for her 29th steal of the season. A walk by redshirt sophomore SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) and sophomore 2B/OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) single set the stage for Skyes' bases-clearing, three-RBI double that pushed the Tigers in front, 3-2.
Ball State's Taylor Rager knotted the score at 3-3 with a solo home run to left field in the top of the third, but again Sykes and the Tigers answered. Following another single from Crane, Sykes ripped an RBI double to center field to put Mizzou back ahead, 4-3. Crane's 2-for-4 output marked her ninth multi-hit game of the year.
The Tigers exploded offensively in the fourth inning to grab a comfortable lead. With runners on the corners, Gadbois slapped an RBI single. Then junior 3B/C Angela Randazzo (Poway, Calif.) worked a bases-loaded walk and a runner raced home as Sykes reached on a fielder's choice, giving the Tigers a 7-3 lead.
Freshman P Tori Finucane (Germantown, Md.) took over on the mound for Stangel in the fifth inning. Finucane shut down the Cardinals, fanning two in two scoreless innings of work.
Mizzou manufactured a game-ending rally in the bottom of the sixth. Randazzo, Sykes and freshman 3B/2B Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.) led off the frame with three-consecutive singles to load the bases. A walk and two wild pitches swelled the Tigers' lead to 10-3. Freshman C Kristen Mack (Riverside, Calif.) stroked a walk-off, pinch-hit single up the middle to complete the run rule win.
The Tigers return to action at the Mizzou Tournament on Saturday, March 22, with a doubleheader against North Dakota State and Oklahoma State. The matchup with NDSU will start at 2:15 p.m.
