#13 @MizzouSoftball Earns Two More Wins Saturday at Citrus Classic

Saturday, February 20

Kissimmee, Fla.

2:30 PM

University of Missouri

3-0

UAB

3-7

UAB

Mizzou

#13 @MizzouSoftball Earns Two More Wins Saturday at Citrus Classic

2/20/2016 8:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Tigers outscore opposition 20-5 in two games

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – No. 13 Mizzou Softball produced two more victories on Saturday at the Citrus Classic, defeating UAB (12-5) and College of Charleston (8-0) in consecutive contests. Through their first four games, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 37-7 and scored greater than eight runs in each matchup.

Mizzou struck early and often in Game One, totaling six runs on six hits in the first inning. Junior C Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.) tallied an RBI single to get the Tigers on the scoreboard first. One batter later, sophomore 3B Amanda Sanchez (West Covina, Calif.) drove in a pair with a single of her own.

Junior C/UT Chloe Rathburn (Mission Viejo, Calif.) put the exclamation point on the opening inning with a three-run home run to straight-away centerfield. The blast marked Rathburn's first home run in her Tiger career.

UAB cut into the Tigers' big advantage with a three-run fourth inning. Mizzou's offense responded in a big way in the bottom half of the frame, tallying four runs on three hits. Rathburn delivered in the clutch again for Mizzou, roping a two-run double to conclude the high scoring inning.

After pitching two effective innings to kick off the contest, sophomore LHP Paige Lowary (Dallas Center, Iowa) returned later in the game in relief to close out the Tigers' victory. Lowary earned the win for her solid effort, earning her second win in many days for Mizzou.

In Game Two, senior SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) put Mizzou on top early with a first inning sacrifice fly. Freshman 1B Rylee Pierce (Visalia, Calif.) tacked on to her impressive early season power display by launching an opposite field solo home run in the third inning.

The Tigers piled on three more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a solo home run to left field from Mack. Three additional runs in the sixth inning, including senior OF Emily Crane's (Troy, Mo.) first home run of the year capped Mizzou's second run-rule victory of the season.

Freshman RHP Danielle Baumgartner (Mexico, Mo.) tossed her second consecutive complete game win for the Tigers while extending her consecutive scoreless innings pitched streak to 11.0. The impressive game moved Baumgartner's early season record to 2-0.

KEY MOMENT (GAME 1)

The Tigers' six-run first inning proved pivotal as UAB moved within three runs heading to the last of the fourth inning. Mizzou's No. 5 – No. 7 hitters (Sanchez, Pierce and Rathburn) packed a punch all game long, hitting 7-for-11 (.636) with one double, two home runs and nine RBI.

TOP TIGERS (GAME 1)

Rathburn: 3-for-4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI (career high)
Lowary: W, 5.1 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Pierce: 2-for-3, 3 R, HR, RBI
Sanchez: 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI

KEY MOMENT (GAME 2)

Mizzou held onto a slim 2-0 advantage heading into the fifth inning. A double steal by Crane and Fagan put two runners in scoring position for Sanchez. The Tiger third basemen drove in one runner with an RBI ground out while the second runner scored on a Charleston error. Mack stepped up to the plate next and delivered a solo home run to put Mizzou up 5-0.

TOP TIGERS (GAME 2)

Baumgartner: W, CG, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K
Crane: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB
Nash: 2-for-3 (5-for-6 overall on the day, T-1st on Mizzou with seven hits on season)

UP NEXT

Mizzou wraps up its weekend at the Citrus Classic on Feb. 21 with matchups vs. Stephen F. Austin and Stetson. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. (CT) and 11:15 a.m. (CT), respectively. Following this weekend's action, the Tigers head to Cathedral City, Calif., for the Mary Nutter Classic (Feb. 25-27).

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).