March 1, 2014

Box Score

KISSIMMEE, Fla.– No. 17 Mizzou Softball won two games for the second day in a row at the Citrus Classic, using a spectacular two-out, six-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Illinois State, 11-10, in the opening game. The Tigers took care of Radford in the following game with a 7-1 score to improve to 11-3 overall in 2014. Head coach Ehren Earleywine's squad was led by outstanding days from redshirt sophomore OF Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) and sophomore 2B/OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.), who batted 6-for-7 and 7-for-9 over the two games, respectively.

After initially starting out with a 4-0 lead on Illinois State (5-12) after the first inning, the Tigers found themselves down 10-5 after the fifth inning. The Tigers came up empty handed in an attempt to generate runs in the sixth inning, leaving the bottom of the seventh as Mizzou's last chance. Crane started the inning with a single through the right side, but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice grounder. Junior 3B/C Angela Randazzo (Poway, Calif.) drove Mizzou's first run in with a double to deep right center, scoring senior OF Mackenzie Sykes (Blue Springs, Mo.) from first base.

A strikeout left the Tigers with one last out to work with, but junior 1B Kelsea Roth (Yorba Linda, Calif.) did not seem to feel the pressure, as she powered out her first home run of the season to left center, setting the score at 10-8. Freshman C Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.) kept the inning alive with a single up the middle, which forced Illinois State to switch from their starting pitcher, Taylor Baxter, to Regan Romshek.

Next, junior IF Corrin Genovese (East Amherst, N.Y.) hit into a fielder's choice play, but sophomore OF Sarah Moore (Chino Hills, Calif.), who pinch ran for Mack, beat out the tag at second base. Gadbois, who batted 4-for-5 against the Redbirds, notched her fourth hit of the game with a single back to Illinois State's pitcher to load the bases. Redshirt sophomore SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) kept the Mizzou momentum going in the next at-bat with an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop, scoring Moore for an 10-9 score in ISU's favor.

Crane came back to the plate for the second time in the seventh inning and did not disappoint, slashing a sharp single up the middle of Illinois State's defense to bring home Genovese and Gadbois for the 11-10 win. Crane also batted 4-for-5 against the Redbirds with three RBI.

Mizzou's following contest against Radford (5-12) was in hand for the Tigers once Crane hit her team-leading third home run of the season, a three-run blast to put Mizzou up 3-0 on the Highlanders in the first inning.

Radford responded with one run in the top of the third inning, but Mizzou distanced themselves with one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one run in the sixth to set the final score of 7-1. The fifth inning featured the first RBI of the season for Gadbois, who slapped a liner into center field to score redshirt sophomore C/OF Carlie Rose (Nixa, Mo.) and Sykes.

Freshman P/OF/1B Casey Stangel (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) picked up both victories in the circle to improve to 6-1 on the season. Stangel entered in relief of senior P Alora Marble (Jefferson City, Mo.) vs. Illinois State, pitching 4.0 innings with five hits and three runs allowed. Stangel started against Radford, putting in 4.2 innings of work with one run allowed and five strikeouts. Marble finished the Radford win off with 2.1 innings pitched, striking out four batters.

Mizzou finishes the Citrus Classic with Ohio State on Sunday, March 2, with game time set for 9 a.m. CT.

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).