#15 @MizzouSoftball Takes Series With 7-3 Sunday Win Over #16 Tennessee

Sunday, April 3

Columbia, Mo.

12:00 PM

University of Missouri

26-7, 0

#16 Tennessee

27-10, 0

Tennessee

Mizzou

#15 @MizzouSoftball Takes Series With 7-3 Sunday Win Over #16 Tennessee

4/3/2016 4:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Tigers launch two home runs in series-clinching victory

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 15 Mizzou Softball (26-7, 5-4 SEC) reeled off its second consecutive victory on Sunday and clinched its SEC series victory over No. 16 Tennessee. The Tigers' 7-3 win at University Field marked their second conference series triumph this year.

Junior Chloe Rathburn (Mission Viejo, Calif.) and redshirt senior Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) delivered back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to key Mizzou's offense. It marked the 10th home run each for Rathburn and Fagan as they joined senior Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) with double-digit home runs this year.

Crane continued her torrid week at the plate on Sunday with two more RBI. Over four games this past week, Crane hit .462 (6-for-13) with six runs scored, one double, three home runs and seven RBI. She also reached base at a .533 clip and recorded an outstanding 1.231 slugging percentage.

Tennessee struck first in the series finale following two first inning runs. Mizzou quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning with RBIs from Fagan and sophomore Amanda Sanchez (West Covina, Calif.).

Sophomore Paige Lowary (Dallas Center, Iowa) locked in following the first inning as she tossed four consecutive scoreless frames. Junior Tori Finucane (Germantown, Md.) entered in relief in the seventh inning and recorded two strikeouts en route to her second save of the year.

Lowary earned her team-leading 14th win of the season, limiting the Volunteers lineup to two earned runs over 6.0 innings of work.

KEY MOMENT

After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Mizzou quickly responded with two runs in each of the first and second inning. Crane's two RBI single in the second inning drove in Nelson and Pierce and gave Mizzou the lead for good.

TOP TIGERS

Fagan: 3-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, SB
Crane: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB
Lowary (W, 14-4) 6.0 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 K

UP NEXT

Mizzou continues its season-high eight-game home stand on Friday, April 8, against No. 9 Georgia. The first game of the series at University Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) first pitch. Mizzou and Georgia's series opener will broadcast live on SEC Network + via WatchESPN.

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).