Kissimmee, Fla.- Mizzou Softball lost to Notre Dame after a seventh-inning rally fell short in a tight battle. Mizzou moved to 9-3 on the season.
The Tigers' opening game of the Citrus Classic in Kissimmee, Fla., featured two ranked opponents as No. 20 Mizzou took on the No. 23 Fighting Irish. Both starting pitchers cruised through the first three innings. Sophomore hurler Tori Fincuane (Germantown, M.D.) struck out five batters in her first two frames and sat down seven consecutive hitters at one point.
Notre Dame rallied in the fourth inning and pushed across three runs. With runners on second and third, a close play at home put the Irish on the board and a double and a single plated two more runs.
Mizzou kept within striking distance on the back of sophomore pitcher Cheyenne Baxter (Norborne, Mo.). Baxter relieved Finucane in the fifth inning and tossed three scoreless frames, giving up just three hits.
In the seventh inning, Mizzou mounted a comeback that fell just short. Two walks and an error loaded the bases for senior Corrin Genovese (East Amherst, N.Y.), who drew another walk to slice the Tigers' deficit to 3-1. Junior Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) followed with an RBI infield single to cut Notre Dame's lead to one, but the Irish managed to retire the side with the bases loaded and seal a 3-2 win.
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