April 24, 2014
| Opponent | Location | Day/Time | Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| at No. 3 Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | Fri./5 p.m. CT | Twitter | | Video/UF | Radio/MIZ |
| at No. 3 Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | Sat./Noon CT | Twitter | | Video/UF | Radio/MIZ |
| at No. 3 Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | Sun./10 a.m. CT | Twitter | | Radio/MIZ | FSN |
|
Mizzou Network Radio: Chad Moller |
TIGER TALES - No. 15 Mizzou Softball (36-12, 12-6 SEC) heads into its series at No. 3 Florida (41-8, 11-7 SEC) having won four consecutive Southeastern Conference series, sweeping the last two (at No. 20 Auburn, vs. Ole Miss). Head coach Ehren Earleywine's squad has won 10 of its last 12 SEC games to run its league record to 12-6. Mizzou posted a 15-8 record in SEC games during its inaugural year in the stout softball conference.
• Mizzou (12-6) is currently tied for second in the SEC, a group whose members make up the top three teams in the latest NCAA RPI (April 21). Alabama, who the Tigers host at University Field from May 1-May 3, sit atop the SEC standings with a 15-3 mark. Kentucky and Tennessee also sport 12-6 conference records. Mizzou's next SEC foe, Florida (April 25-April 27), is tied for fifth in the SEC standings at 11-7 with Georgia.
• The Tigers dispatched in-state foe Missouri State, 5-0, on Wednesday, April 23, with a complete-game shutout thrown by freshman P Tori Finucane, the sixth of her freshman season. Earleywine has led Mizzou to a 6-0 record against Missouri State in his time in Columbia, with the last Missouri State win in the series coming in 2006. The game was also Mizzou's annual Pink Out game, with the Tigers wearing pink jerseys and visors in support of breast cancer awareness.
• Finucane's latest shutdown effort comes on the heels of the Tiger being recognized as a Top 25 Finalist for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's inaugural Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy on April 17. Finucane has been impressive in 2014, compiling a 1.61 ERA in 147.2 innings of work for a 17-5 record. Finucane has won seven consecutive decisions (April 4-April 23), the longest winning streak for a Mizzou pitcher since former ace Chelsea Thomas won eight-straight from April 13, 2013-May 11, 2013. Finucane last allowed an earned run in the first game of the Western Illinois doubleheader (April 9).
• The Tigers' sweep of Ole Miss (April 18-19) featured a home run in each victory by freshman 3B/2B Natalie Fleming. The newcomer to Mizzou looked like a seasoned veteran when she blasted a three-run, walk-off home run to right field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. The long ball, her first of the series, gave the Tigers a 5-3 series-opening and doubleheader-opening win (Friday, April 18). Stop, thief! Redshirt sophomore of Taylor Gadbois leads the SEC in stolen bases with her 41 swipes in 2014. Her 0.89 stolen bases per game (heading into the week) ranked fourth in the nation. Her success this season ranks in Mizzou's single-season Top 10 for stolen bases, tied for sixth.
• The Tigers' sweep of Ole Miss comes on the heels of the impressive three-win performance at No. 20 Auburn (April 11-April 13). The initial, 4-2 win (April 11) of the sweep was impacted by junior 3B/C Angela Randazzo's two-run home run in the fourth inning. Mizzou claimed one-run victories in the following two wins (8-7, 7-6) from April 12-13. Senior OF Mackenzie Sykes homered twice in the 8-7 win, batting an impressive 3-for-4. Two seventh-inning home runs from junior IF Corrin Genovese and freshman IF/OF Kelli Schkade helped the Tigers complete the sweep with the 7-6 win. Schkade was named SEC Freshman of the Week (April 14) for her efforts.
• If it is a conference game, expect Genovese to bring her bat (and glove). The Tiger infielder continued her hot conference hitting, batting 5-for-9 (.556) in Mizzou's three wins vs. Ole Miss. Genovese (.479) was barely caught by Tennessee's Madison Shipman (.480) for the top league games-only batting average over the weekend.
THE OPPOSITION - FLORIDA- No. 3 Florida (41-8, 11-7 SEC) often uses the long ball to power its offense, with 63 home runs as a team. The total ranks third in the SEC. Two Gators, Lauren Haeger and Kirsti Merritt, have 12 and 10 home runs so far in 2014, respectively.
• Fives regulars for the Gators currently bat above the .300 mark, led by Kelsey Stewart (.424) and Stephanie Tofft (.326). Stewart also leads UF on the base paths, stealing a team-best 26 bases (out of 30 attempts).
• Tofft leads Florida with 52 RBI, stemming from nine doubles and nine home runs. She's also the team's lead in walks at 33.
• Hannah Rogers has seen the majority of Florida's innings in the circle (149.2), pitching to a 21-6 record with a 1.68 ERA. Backups Haeger (2.09 ERA) and Gourley (2.60 ERA) have also found success, compiling 7-1 and 13-1 records, respectively.