TEMPE, Ariz. – No. 17 Mizzou Softball (5-2) kicked off its second tournament of the 2017 campaign on Friday, splitting a doubleheader against South Dakota and Illinois State. The Tigers opened the day with an 11-7 triumph over South Dakota, followed by a 7-3 loss to the Redbirds in game two of the twin billing.
Game One (vs. South Dakota)
Mizzou's bats arrived in its Littlewood Classic opener, producing a season high 11 runs on 14 hits. The Tigers tallied six extra-base hits against Coyotes pitching, highlighted by home runs from freshman Cayla Kessinger (Saugus, Calif.), freshman Braxton Burnside (Paragould, Ark.), redshirt junior Anna Reed (Lonedell, Mo.) and sophomore Kolby Romaine (Chino Hills, Calif.).
Kessinger, Burnside and Reed's blasts all marked their first career home runs in Tiger black and gold. Friday morning's matchup was a game full of Mizzou firsts, as freshman Taylor Kirby (Decatur, Ill.) also recorded her first career hit.
The Tigers struck first against South Dakota, following Reed's two RBI double in the opening inning. Kessinger's solo blast in the third inning extended Mizzou's early advantage to 3-0. The Coyotes finally broke through in the bottom of the third, pushing four runners across the plate and claiming their first lead of the game.
Down 4-3 in the fifth, Mizzou's hitters exploded for eight runs on eight hits over its final three turns through the lineup. Senior Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.) began the fifth inning rally with a 2-out single, securing her team-leading fourth multi-hit game of the young season. Burnside put the Tigers back on top with her clutch two-run home run to left-center.
Mizzou added five key insurance runs in the seventh, as Romaine's three-run blast to left field capped off the big frame. Earlier in the inning, Kessinger's single marked the Tigers' first individual three-hit outing of the year.
Game Two (vs. Illinois State)
The Tigers' early-season five-game winning streak was snapped following a 7-3 loss to Illinois State. The Redbirds' starting pitcher silenced Mizzou's bats with a strong complete game effort in the circle.
Illinois State jumped out early after pushing four runs across the plate in the second inning. A solo home run in the fourth and two-run shot in the sixth gave the Redbirds a 7-0 advantage heading to the final frame.
After being held scoreless for the opening six innings, Mizzou finally came alive with three runs on four hits in the seventh. Burnside delivered her second home run of Friday's doubleheader, while senior Chloe Rathburn (Mission Viejo, Calif.) and redshirt freshman Jolie Duffner (Jefferson City, Mo.) posted RBIs.
Rathburn posted two doubles against Redbirds pitching, marking her first multi-hit game of the season. Reed's base hit in the sixth inning extended her season-opening streak of reaching base safely to seven games.
Up Next
Mizzou continues play at the ASU Littlewood Classic with another doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Tigers will meet Wichita State and No. 21 Arizona State at 3:30 p.m. (CT) and 9 p.m. (CT), respectively. Mizzou is scheduled for its tournament finale on Sunday, Feb. 19, against Illinois State. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. (CT).
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