CHARLESTON, S.C. – No. 17 Mizzou Softball (3-1) earned two victories on Saturday at the Charleston Southern Tournament, highlighted by an 8-4 victory against No. 14 James Madison. Following their payback win against the Dukes, the Tigers closed the afternoon's doubleheader sweep with a 3-0 shutout triumph over Charleston Southern.
Game One
After falling 6-0 to James Madison in its season opener on Friday, Mizzou earned revenge on Saturday with an 8-4 win. The Tigers scored in five of six innings, keeping constant pressure on the Dukes.
Senior Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.) and sophomore Rylee Pierce (Visalia, Calif.) produced Mizzou's first home runs of the season with blasts in the first and third inning, respectively. Mack's two-run home run in the first set the tone for the Tigers, as they tallied a season-best eight runs.
The Tiger catcher was the offense's overall star against James Madison, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored, one home run and three RBI. Redshirt freshman Jolie Duffner (Jefferson City, Mo.) joined Mack with a multi-hit effort, highlighted by her first career double in the fifth inning.
In the circle, freshman Parker Conrad (Winter Park, Fla.) tallied her first career win after allowing zero earned runs over 4.0 innings. Sophomore Danielle Baumgartner (Mexico, Mo.) and redshirt sophomore Madi Norman (Tipton, Mo.) tossed the final three innings in relief, securing Mizzou's first top 25 ranked victory of the young season.
Game Two
Similar to Friday afternoon's doubleheader finale, Mizzou and Charleston Southern competed in another closely contested ballgame. The Tigers' stellar pitching ultimately reigned supreme against the Buccaneers, as senior Cheyenne Baxter (Norborne, Mo.) and Norman combined for the team's first shutout victory of the year.
Baxter was sensational in her first start of the year, allowing only four hits over 5.1 scoreless innings. Norman entered in relief in the sixth inning, shutting down Charleston Southern's lineup en route to her first career save.
Freshman Braxton Burnside (Paragould, Ark.) earned her first crack at the leadoff spot this season and didn't disappoint. The Tiger shortstop delivered her first career multi-hit game, while scoring a big insurance run in the sixth inning.
Mizzou held onto a slim 1-0 advantage heading into the sixth before redshirt junior Anna Reed (Londell, Mo.) drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Mack scored the Tigers' final run of the day after a successful double steal with Pierce.
Another first-year Tiger, freshman Cayla Kessinger (Saugus, Calif.), contributed against the Buccaneers with a second inning RBI ground out.
Up Next
The Tigers conclude their run at the Charleston Southern Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 12. Mizzou will meet USC Upstate with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. (CT).
Mizzou's early-season tournament schedule continues from Feb. 17-19 at the Arizona State Littlewood Classic. The Tigers will play five games in three days in Tempe, Ariz.
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).
