Softball Opens Season with Two Wins at Dot Richardson Invitational

Friday, February 13

Clermont, Fla.

10:00AM

University of Missouri

1-0

Louisville

2-4

Missouri

Louisville

Softball Opens Season with Two Wins at Dot Richardson Invitational

2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 13, 2015

Box Score

Clermont, Fla. - Mizzou Softball officially launched its 2015 campaign at the Dot Richardson Invitational in Clermont, Fla. The Tigers opened up in style, picking two wins on Friday, Feb. 13. Head coach Ehren Earleywine's squad combined lock down pitching with clutch hitting to beat Louisville, 5-1, and oust UT-Chattanooga, 6-1.

Mizzou jumped out to a quick start offensively in the first contest against Louisville. In the opening frame, junior Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) smashed an RBI double to give the Tigers their first run of the season. Fagan struck again in the third, clobbering a two-RBI double to push Mizzou's lead to 5-0 through two innings.

Junior OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) also collected an RBI knock, lifting an opposite field single in the second inning. Crane went 1-for-3 at the dish against the Cardinals and scored two runs.

In the circle, sophomore Tori Finucane (Germantown, M.D.) worked through jams early before settling in and cruising to her 22nd career victory. Louisville had the bases loaded in both the first and second frames, but Finucane thwarted each rally with clutch outs. The All-SEC hurler tossed a complete game, limiting the Cardinals to just one run on six hits and three walks. Finucane also collected four strikeouts.

The second game of the doubleheader was a tight battle until an offensive outburst in the sixth inning propelled Mizzou to the win. Freshman pitcher Paige Lowary (Dallas Center, Iowa) held Chattanooga's offense in check throughout the afternoon until the offensive support gave the Tigers' a comfortable cushion.

Lowary struck out six and surrendered just five hits in six innings of work to pick up her first collegiate win. She retired the side in order in both the fifth and sixth innings.

Junior Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) manufactured Mizzou's first run with her speed. Gadbois earned a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. She scored on the next pitch when Crane lifted a sacrifice fly. Gadbois tallied four hits, two walks and three stolen bases over the two games on Friday.

After the two squads traded runs in the second inning, Mizzou clung to a 2-1 lead until the big sixth inning. Sophomore Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.) roped a lead-off double and Gadbois followed with a single. During the next at bat, Crane came through with a clutch single to score both Fleming and Gadbois. A pair of RBI singles from freshman Amanda Sanchez (West Covina, Calif.) and senior Corrin Genovese (East Amherst, N.Y.) ballooned the Tigers' lead to 6-1.

Sophomore transfer pitcher Cheyenne Baxter (Norbone, Mo.) logged her first inning as a Tiger in the seventh frame and she closed the door emphatically. Baxter sat down three consecutive batters to seal Mizzou's second win of the day.

Mizzou is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 14. The Tigers take on UCF at 10:00 a.m. CT and Cleveland State at 12:30 p.m. CT. For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouSoftball.