CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – No. 20 Mizzou Softball (6-3) opened play at the 2017 Mary Nutter Classic on Thursday evening with a doubleheader against Notre Dame and Texas. Following a dominant 8-0 run-rule victory over the Fighting Irish in game one, the Tigers closed their evening with a 10-3 loss to the Longhorns in game two.
Tonight's action marked the third doubleheader split already this season for Mizzou, as it accumulated the same result at the Charleston Southern Tournament (Feb. 10) and ASU Littlewood Classic (Feb. 17).
Game One (vs. Notre Dame)
In arguably the team's most complete win of the young season, Mizzou claimed its third shutout triumph of the year. The Tigers scored eight runs on 10 hits on offense, while redshirt sophomore Madi Norman (Tipton, Mo.) delivered the top start of her collegiate career.
Norman showed electric stuff from the get-go Thursday night, claiming a pair of strikeouts in the first inning. After a quick second frame, Norman tallied eight more strikeouts through her final three innings of work.
Overall, Norman tossed her second career complete game shutout, while striking out a career-best 10 batters. The Tiger righty's previous career high in punch-outs was set earlier this season against USC Upstate (Feb. 12).
At the plate, seniors Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.) and Chloe Rathburn (Mission Viejo, Calif.) recorded multi-hit games. Rathburn finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, as each base hit also drove in a run.
The Tigers' big five-run third inning was highlighted by a two-run double from freshman Braxton Burnside (Paragould, Ark.) and sophomore Rylee Pierce's (Visalia, Calif.) second home run of the year.
Mizzou was also active on the basepaths against Notre Dame, posting a season high seven stolen bases. Rathburn and redshirt freshman Jolie Duffner (Jefferson City, Mo.) each picked up two swipes, while sophomore Raime Cohen (St. Louis, Mo.) earned her first stolen base of the season.
Game Two (vs. Texas)
The two teams fought neck and neck through the first five innings of play, before the visiting Longhorns used an explosive six-run sixth inning to ultimately pull away from Mizzou.
After Texas scored on a wild pitch in the first inning, the Tigers responded with a single run of their own in the bottom half thanks to a sacrifice fly by Mack. The Longhorns added one run in the third and two runs in the fifth to build a 4-1 advantage.
Mizzou looked to be heading to a quick bottom half of the fifth, but consecutive fielding errors by Texas allowed two runners to cross the plate. The Tigers suddenly only trailed 4-3 heading to the sixth inning.
The Longhorns continued to claw away on Mizzou's pitching in the sixth however, leading to a big six-run frame. Texas' five-hole hitter capped the big crooked number with a grand slam to left field. Mizzou produced leadoff baserunners in its opening four innings, but failed to produce key hits later in the respective frames.
Individually, Pierce and Burnside recorded multi-hit games against the Longhorns' pitching. The young Tiger duo each respectively now have three multi-hit efforts this season.
Up Next
Mizzou is set for day two of the Mary Nutter Classic on Friday, Feb. 25. The Tigers will meet No. 7 Washington for their lone game of the day. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (CT).
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