COLUMBIA, Mo. - Three righties and one lefty. One freshman, one sophomore and two juniors. One that changes speeds effectively, one with a powerful fastball, one with a proven track record and one who is poised to breakout.

No matter which way you want to describe the Mizzou Softball pitching staff, one thing is quite certain heading into the 2016 campaign. Freshman Danielle Baumgartner (Mexico, Mo.), junior Cheyenne Baxter (Norborne, Mo.), junior Tori Finucane (Germantown, Md.) and sophomore Paige Lowary (Dallas Center, Iowa) make up one of the most talented and deep Tiger pitching staffs in years.

The talent was on full display during the Fall 2015 season as the four Tigers collectively compiled a 0.91 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 54.0 innings pitched. Each hurler allowed two or less earned runs in their fall workload while totaling impressive strikeout numbers at University Field.

A year after the Tigers' offense posted historic numbers at the plate, this year's pitching staff is hoping to turn the tables and make a name of its own in Mizzou Softball lore.

Baumgartner joins Mizzou Softball following a successful career at Mexico High School in Mexico, Mo. She was a three-time First Team All-Region and All-Conference player and keyed her team's fourth-place finish at the Missouri State Championships in 2014.

The second Baumgartner donned the Mizzou black and gold and stepped into the circle, the Tigers' coaching staff spotted her precise control and effective ability to change speeds. With a slew of power arms already in place, Baumgartner's ability to utilize an outstanding changeup and keep hitters off-balance was a welcoming sight.

In contrast to Baumgartner's at time "finesse" pitching style, Lowary can be seen as utilizing an opposite approach and using a high velocity fastball to set the tone. As she watches Baumgartner in practice and in games, Lowary continues to notice her effective style.

"I would describe Danielle as an extremely confident and fearless pitcher," Lowary said. "She changes speeds, has good movement on her pitches and is super consistent. She'll make a big impact this year because she isn't afraid to come into a game and do her thing. The team trusts her because she trusts herself. She can throw a changeup in any count and that is an extremely effective asset. It keeps people on their toes and that is her biggest strength."

With a confident and fearless mentality in the circle, Baumgartner is poised to make a positive impact in her first year with the Tigers.

"Danielle was the most pleasant surprise of the fall season," head coach Ehren Earleywine said. "She just has ice water running through her veins and is fearless out there. She throws strikes and isn't afraid to compete. I really like what she's doing on the mound."

Baxter begins her second season with Mizzou Softball following a successful first-year campaign in 2015. The tall righty joined the Tigers last season after transferring from Omaha. Baxter posted a 4-1 record in 14 games pitched (five starts) in her only season with the Mavericks. She immediately saw her role increase with Mizzou, appearing in 30 games (two starts) and posting a solid 3-1 record with a 2.78 ERA a year ago.

Throughout last season, Baxter served as the team's No. 3 starter and logged key innings for coach Earleywine. While her workload diminished towards the end of the regular season, little did she know that her biggest moment of the year awaited for her in postseason play.

At University Field during the 2015 NCAA Regional Championships, Baxter took the mound in relief against Kansas and threw 4.2 outstanding innings. Her clutch performance keyed the Tigers' 7-6 victory and moved the team to its seventh NCAA Super Regional in the past nine years.

Finucane joined Baxter in last year's NCAA Regional success in Columbia, Mo. As she watched Baxter come in relief from the dugout, Finucane was blown away by her focus and determination in the circle.

"Since Cheyenne has been with us at Mizzou, I've seen an incredible transformation," Finucane said. "She has blossomed into a tough competitor and her work ethic is a testament to that. She has really shaped our group of pitchers into a true staff. Her confidence in the circle last year at Regionals shined in a time when we needed her the most. We are very lucky to have her."

Baxter's heroics at the NCAA Regional marked her last appearance in the circle in 2015. With such a positive memory stored away from a season ago and a strong showing during this past fall season, she is looking forward to using that energy towards the upcoming 2016 campaign.

"After receiving that win against Kansas, I came into this season more comfortable and confident than ever before," Baxter said. "I have more velocity, control and movement then I did this time last year. I hope to continue to improve those three aspects as this season continues. Last year's Regional Championship really motivated me to work harder and compete for more innings on this team."

Finucane stormed onto the national scene during her 2014 freshman season, posting a 21-6 record with a phenomenal 1.73 ERA in 190.1 innings pitched. The standout first-year campaign earned her SEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-SEC accolades.

Heading into her sophomore season, expectations were high for the Germantown, Md., native. The talented right-hander matched her wins total from 2014 with 21 more victories in 2015. With consecutive 21-win seasons already under her belt at Mizzou, it's no surprise that her .750 winning percentage (42-14) ranks fifth-highest in program history.

With the departure of key veteran senior leaders, Finucane will now be looked upon by her peers for strong leadership throughout the upcoming 2016 season. Eight freshmen headline the slew of Tiger newcomers, including a fellow right handed pitcher in Baumgartner.

Baumgartner joined the Mizzou Softball program last summer and instantly grew a connection and sense of appreciation for Finucane. Each day in practice, Baumgartner is sure to monitor Finucane's mentality and demeanor as she continues to learn the Tiger way.

"Tori is who I go to with all of my questions," Baumgartner said. "She's always so helpful and supportive. Tori is also a pitcher who just seems to do all the little things right. Whether it's doing drills or throwing full, we always joke about how graceful she looks doing it. Her mechanics are definitely something I try to mimic each time out."

With her newly discovered role on the team, Finucane herself knows the importance of tutoring the newcomers and strengthening the overall team chemistry heading into the season opener.

"When I was an underclassman, my method of leadership was to lead by example," Finucane said. "Now that I'm a upperclassman, I understand the importance of being a stronger vocal leader but to also stress the importance of working as a staff. As a pitcher who has been here the longest and also the oldest, I do hold a sense of responsibility to help my fellow pitchers. At this point, we can't think of ourselves as individual pitchers but rather as a staff. The only way we work our way to the top is by working with each other."

Similar to Finucane, Lowary enjoyed a memorable freshman season with Mizzou Softball. In 2015, Lowary compiled an 18-7 record with 164 strikeouts in 162.2 innings pitched, leading to Freshman All-SEC honors. Her performance in the circle not only turned heads in the collegiate world but it also raised the attention of numerous USA Softball higher-ups.

Last June, Lowary was selected to the 2015 USA Softball Junior Women's National Team. The premier team consisted of 20 top student-athletes across collegiate softball and they competed at prime tournaments throughout the summer.

Four months later, Lowary once again was recognized by USA Softball as it selected the left hander as one of 43 invitees to its 2016 Women's National Team Selection Camp. A strong showing amongst the pitchers on-site later led to Lowary being selected as one of 18 members to the 2016 USA Softball Women's Elite Team.

For Lowary, the opportunity to play for USA Softball this past year was a dream come true.

"It was a really cool experience," Lowary said. "It was such an honor to be a part of those teams. It was one of my biggest dreams since I was a little girl – to play collegiate softball and make the Junior Women's National Team. Wearing USA across my chest was an amazing feeling."

Now back in Mid-Missouri, Lowary is shifting her focus back to the Tigers and playing a key role into the team's success. With Lowary's national accolades from a season ago, coach Earleywine knows he possesses one of the top up-and-coming arms in the country.  

Earleywine notes that a talent like Lowary doesn't come around often.

"Paige has electric stuff," Earleywine said. "She's as gifted and talented as a player that you're going to find. It's going to be fun to watch her career unfold and see how good she can become over the next three years at Mizzou."

Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Softball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (University of Missouri Softball Team) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouSoftball).