March 7, 2014
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#15 Mizzou 7, #13 Texas A&M 0 |
Time: 1:42 Att.: 743 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F | |
| MIZZOU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Texas A&M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| W - Finucane (6-2) | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| L - Fox (5-4) | 3.1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Hitting Leaders | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | HR |
| MIZ - Sykes (2-for-4) | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| MIZ - Randazzo (2-for-3) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
COLLEGE STATION, Texas– No. 15 Mizzou Softball was pitched to a shutout, 7-0 win over No. 13 Texas A&M to start the squad's Southeastern Conference schedule by freshman P Tori Finucane (Germantown, Md.), who held the Aggies off the scoreboard with seven strikeouts and three hits allowed in the 7.0-inning win. The Tigers were led at the plate with home runs from senior OF Mackenzie Sykes (Blue Springs, Mo.), junior 3B/C Angela Randazzo (Poway, Calif.) and junior 1B Kelsea Roth (Yorba Linda, Calif.).
Finucane (6-2) helped head coach Ehren Earleywine's squad improve to 13-3 (1-0 SEC), while the Aggies dropped to 17-5 (0-1 SEC). Finucane issued just two walks in the contest with only one of the three hits going for extra bases. The win was her second shutout victory over a ranked team this season, with the Tiger newcomer leading Mizzou to a 2-0 win over then-No. 14 Arizona (Feb. 20).
Redshirt sophomore SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) hit Mizzou into the lead after Gadbois led off the game with a single to shortstop. A throwing error and wild pitch got Gadbois around to third base, with Fagan's single to right field bringing her home for a 1-0 advantage in the first inning.
The power was turned on by Mizzou in the top of the fourth inning, with both Sykes and Randazzo recording their big swings. Sophomore 2B/OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) started the inning with a double to the right center field gap, which Sykes followed with her fourth home run of the season on a blast to left center. Randazzo came to the plate with the bases recently cleaned and knocked her own long ball out to left field for a 4-0 Mizzou lead.
With two outs, junior IF Corrin Genovese (East Amherst, N.Y.) helped bring two more runs around for Mizzou when a long drive to center field was misplayed by A&M. Scoring on the play were freshman P/OF/1B Casey Stangel (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) and freshman C Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.), who preceded Genovese by reaching with a single and a walk, respectively. That play helped move the Tigers lead to 6-0.
Roth tacked on one last run for Mizzou's strong effort with her solo home run, a line drive shot to left field, setting the final score of 7-0.
Fagan, Sykes and Randazzo all finished the game with two hits, with Sykes leading the way with her two RBI.
Texas A&M started Rachel Fox in the circle, who took the loss (5-4) after allowing seven hits and three earned runs. Abby Donnell replaced Fox after 3.1 innings, pitching the Aggies' final 3.2 innings with four hits allowed and one earned run.
Mizzou and Texas A&M continue on Saturday, March 8, at 1 p.m., rescheduled from 4 p.m. to avoid potentially inclement weather. The Tigers and Aggies finish the series on Sunday, March 9, at noon.
The Tigers' first home contests of the 2014 season will be against SEC foe Kentucky from March 14-16 at University Field. Season ticket renewals are currently ongoing, along with additional season ticket requests being taken. More information can be found here. Contact the Mizzou Ticket Office by phone at 1-800-CAT-PAWS (573-884-7297 in Mid-Missouri).