The Mizzou Softball team opened its 2016 fall season with a dominating 16-0 win over Lakeland Community College in the first game of an evening doubleheader.
Junior 3B Amanda Sanchez was the catalyst offensively, as the sweet-swinging lefty went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate, driving in six runs on a homer, two doubles and two singles. Eight of the nine starters in the Mizzou lineup had hits in the game, as the Tigers racked up 18 hits overall. The pitching staff of freshman RHP Parker Conrad and senior RHP Cheyenne Baxter were virtually untouchable against Lakeland, shutting them out on just three hits, allowing only a trio of singles, while striking out 14 batters.
Playing as the visiting team, the Tigers wasted no time in jumping on top, putting up a three-spot in the top of the first inning, courtesy of a three-run homer from sophomore 1B Rylee Pierce. After junior 3B Amanda Sanchez singled with one out, and senior C Kirsten Mack walked to put runners at first and second, Pierce launched a two-out towering fly ball toward center field. It eventually landed just over the taller center field fence just shy of the scoreboard to put Mizzou up, 3-0.
A four-run second inning, followed by three more in the third put the Tigers out comfortably to a 10-0 lead. Sophomore 2B Kolby Romaine led off the inning with a single, and came around to score on a double by Sanchez that made it 4-0 at the time. Mack, Pierce and freshman LF Cayla Kessinger each added run-scoring singles to extend the Tiger lead to 7-0.
Romaine also led off the third inning, and she smashed the first pitch she saw over the left field wall for a solo home run and an 8-0 Mizzou lead. Sanchez followed later with her second straight double – this one of the two-run variety – to make it 10-0. She would add a two-run homer in the fifth to left center, and capped her big night at the plate with a run scoring single in the sixth inning, part of a four-run sixth for the Tigers.
Conrad got the start and threw two shutout innings, striking out two while allowing a single. Baxter took to the circle to start the third inning, and she promptly struck out the first four hitters she faced. Baxter would allow just two singles the rest of the way, and struck out 12 in all.