University of Missouri
7-0
North Carolina State
5-5
#12 @MizzouSoftball Splits Day One at Mary Nutter Classic
2/25/2016 8:53:00 PM | Softball
Tigers set for game three Friday evening vs. Colorado State
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – No. 12 Mizzou Softball split its opening day games on Thursday at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. The Tigers kicked off the day with a convincing 17-2 victory over North Carolina State before dropping their first contest of the season with a 5-3 loss to Stanford.
Mizzou's (7-1) offense stole the show in game one against the Wolfpack, producing a season-high 17 runs on 14 hits. Junior UT Chloe Rathburn (Mission Viejo, Calif.) put on a power display to remember, hitting a two-run home and grand slam both in the second inning. Rathburn finished the game with seven RBI, tying the second-highest single-game RBI output in program history.
Redshirt senior SS Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, a home run and four RBI. Sophomore 3B Amanda Sanchez (West Covina, Calif.) was also perfect at the plate for Mizzou, finishing 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Sophomore LHP Paige Lowary (Dallas Center, Iowa) and junior RHP Cheyenne Baxter (Norborne, Mo.) teamed up for five effective innings in the circle. Lowary earned the win against North Carolina State and improved to 4-0 overall.
In game two against Stanford, the Tigers once again jumped out to an early advantage. Sanchez's first inning RBI sacrifice fly put Mizzou on top, 1-0. Stanford responded with a run in the third inning plus two additional runs in the fourth inning to take the lead.
Mizzou fought back in the fifth inning, tying the score at three apiece following an RBI single from Sanchez and RBI sacrifice fly by senior RF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.). Stanford didn't wait long to regain its advantage, claiming one run each in the sixth and seventh inning. The Tigers had their chances to tie the score in the last two frames but couldn't push another runner past the plate.
Sanchez and freshman LF Regan Nash (Camden Point, Mo.) each tallied multi-hit games despite the loss. It marked Sanchez's fourth consecutive multi-hit effort and sixth overall this season while Nash has five multi-hit outings to her resume.
KEY MOMENT (GAME 1)
Mizzou led 2-1 heading to the bottom half of the second inning before exploding for 10 runs on six hits. Rathburn's two home runs and Fagan's three-run home fueled the Tiger's impressive offensive display.
TOP TIGERS (GAME 1)
- Rathburn: 2-for-3, 2 R, 7 RBI
- Fagan: 4-for-4, 3 R, HR, 4 RBI
- Sanchez: 3-for-3, 2 R, RBI
KEY MOMENT (GAME 2)
With the score tied at 1-1 in the third inning, Pierce launched a ball well over the centerfield fence but the Stanford outfielder made a sensational play to take away the home run. Following the defensive gem, Stanford promptly scored two runs in the fourth inning to take its first lead.
TOP TIGERS (GAME 2)
- Nash: 2-for-4, R, SB
- Sanchez: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
- Lowary: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 K
UP NEXT
Mizzou continues play at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 26. The Tigers will play one game under the lights against Colorado State at 10 p.m. (CT). Fans can watch the game live online at FloSoftball.com.
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).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lowary, Paige (4-0)
L: Mirabella (3-3)
Batting:
HR: Ross 1 ; Burroughs 1
RBI: Ross 1 ; Burroughs 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ross 1 ; Burroughs 1
Batting:
2B: Fagan, Sami 1
HR: Fagan, Sami 1 ; Rathburn, Chloe 2
RBI: Fagan, Sami 4 ; Sanchez, Amanda 1 ; Crane, Emily 1 ; Romaine, Kolby 1 ; Mack, Kirsten 1 ; Rathburn, Chloe 7 ; Chase Nelson 1
SF: Rathburn, Chloe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nash, Regan 1 ; Fagan, Sami 3 ; Pierce, Rylee 3 ; Sanchez, Amanda 2 ; Crane, Emily 1 ; Romaine, Kolby 1 ; Mack, Kirsten 2 ; Sydney Sprague 1 ; Rathburn, Chloe 2 ; Chase Nelson 1
SB: Nash, Regan 1
HBP: Sanchez, Amanda 1
