@MizzouSoftball Splits First Day at Mary Nutter Classic

Thursday, February 22

Cathedral City, Calif.

3 pm

University of Missouri

7-5

BYU

4-8

BYU

Mizzou

@MizzouSoftball Splits First Day at Mary Nutter Classic

2/22/2018 8:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Tigers defeat BYU in game one, but falter late in game two against No. 12 Arizona

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Mizzou Softball (7-6) opened its trip at the Mary Nutter Classic Thursday with a doubleheader against BYU and No. 12 Arizona. The Tigers opened their day with an 8-6 victory over the Cougars and fell 9-4 to the Wildcats in game two. Mizzou held a two-run advantage in the sixth inning over nationally ranked Arizona, but the Wildcats responded with seven unanswered runs en route to a comeback win.

#ShowMe Top Performers vs. BYU

Regan Nash: 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI
Brooke Wilmes: 3-for-4, 3 R, RBI
Callie Martin: 1-for-4, 3 RBI
Rylee Pierce: 2-for-2, R, RBI

#ShowMe Top Performers vs. No. 12 Arizona

Cayla Kessinger: 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI
Amanda Sanchez: 2-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI
Kara Decker: 1-for-2, R, HR, RBI

Coach Fogue's Corner

On Thursday's doubleheader split…

"I continue to be impressed with the fight in this team so far. Against BYU we came from behind for a nice tournament-opening victory. Our freshmen really stepped up and made big impacts at the plate. In game two against Arizona we played with a lot of intensity and fell just short against a great opponent. We continue to show that we can compete with top-tier teams this year, but need to work on getting over that hump that has cost us. Tomorrow gives us another opportunity to get back on track against North Carolina."

#MIZ Takeaways

Against the Cougars, first-year Tigers accounted for six of the team's eight RBI. Mizzou trailed 3-1 entering the bottom half of the fourth, but rallied with seven runs in its next three at bats.
Kendyll Bailey earned her first career RBI with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
Martin's RBI ground out in the fifth and clutch 2 RBI single in the sixth secured three total RBI at the plate, marking a new 2018 single-game season high.
Nash and Wilmes each posted their first three-hit games of the season against BYU. Nash matched her single-game career-high with the three knocks, while Wilmes established a new career single-game personal best.
For the third time this season, Mizzou battled to the very end against a top 25 ranked opponent. The Tigers possessed a two-run lead over Arizona in the sixth inning and one-run lead into the seventh.
All four of Mizzou's runs against the Wildcats were courtesy of the long ball. The Tigers' three trips to #BombCity marked their fourth multi-home run game this season.
Sanchez smoked her team-leading fourth home run, while Kessinger and Decker tallied their first long ball this year. Decker's solo shot in the second inning was her first career home run at Mizzou.

Up Next

Mizzou continues its four-day stay at the Mary Nutter Classic on Friday with a single-game matchup versus North Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CT.

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).