CLEARWATER, Fla. – Mizzou Softball (14-11) opened its weekend at the 2017 South Florida Tournament on Friday evening, tallying a doubleheader split against Ohio State and Rutgers. The Tigers fell 5-4 in extras (9 inn.) to the Buckeyes in game one, but responded nicely with a 9-1 run-rule (5 inn.) victory over the Scarlet Knights in game two.
In game one, Mizzou erased a 3-0 first inning deficit to Ohio State by tallying four unanswered runs. Freshman Braxton Burnside (Paragould, Ark.) delivered a clutch two-run RBI single in the sixth inning, putting the Tigers on the brink of a big comeback win.
The Buckeyes were down to their last out in the top half of the seventh, but rallied to even the score at four apiece. Mizzou had a golden scoring opportunity in the bottom half, but ultimately left two runners on base. The Tigers saw another game-winning chance in the eighth, but Rutgers used an inning-ending double play at the plate to send the game to the ninth frame.
Friday evening's doubleheader opener took another strange turn in the ninth inning, as the Scarlet Knights re-gained the lead after an RBI triple on an attempted intentional walk by the Tigers. In its final at bat, Mizzou possessed a chance to tie the game yet again, but saw a runner get tagged out at home for the second consecutive inning.
Mizzou's bats came out swinging in game two versus Rutgers, posting nine runs on nine hits in its run-rule triumph. Sophomore Regan Nash (Camden Point, Mo.), redshirt junior Anna Reed (Lonedell, Mo.) and Burnside each posted multiple hits and RBIs against the Scarlet Knights.
Nash opened game two scoring with a two RBI double down the left field line. Reed followed her teammate with an RBI single to center, while Burnside capped the Tigers' five-run second inning with her team-leading seventh home run of the year.
After allowing a single run in the top of the third, Mizzou put the game out of reach with four more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Nash once again tallied a run-producing hit, capping a career high three RBI night at the plate. Reed also finished with a career high four RBI, following a three-run home run to left-center. Over Friday's two-game stretch, the Tiger outfielder secured her third and fourth multi-hit games of the season.
In the circle, senior Cheyenne Baxter (Norborne, Mo.) continued her strong month of March with a victory in game two. Baxter improved to 4-2 on the year after tossing 3.0 shutout innings against the Scarlet Knights. Sophomore Danielle Baumgartner (Mexico, Mo.) secured the Tigers' victory with 2.0 scoreless frames out of the bullpen.
Hear From the Tigers
Reed on her big doubleheader at the plate…
 "I was seeing the ball well all day and that led to quality at bats. I wanted to keep a simple approach and really drive the ball the other way. Everything came together on that home run against Rutgers, so I was very pleased."
Up Next
The 2017 South Florida Tournament continues on Saturday, March 18. Mizzou will play in its second consecutive doubleheader, meeting North Dakota State and South Florida at Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. (CT) and 1:30 p.m. (CT), respectively.
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