CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Mizzou Softball split its final day at the Mary Nutter Classic, falling to No. 5 Washington 6-3 in the opener while bludgeoning New Mexico State 15-0 in its tournament finale. The Tigers closed the Nutter 1-3 overall, but move to 9-5 on the season with the win over the Aggies.
Sophomore pitcher Baleigh Koester suffered her first loss of the season versus Washington, though she was solid, going 4.1 IP only allowing one earned. Senior P Madi Norman was again excellent for the Black & Gold against New Mexico State, going three innings without allowing a hit. She also registered four strikeouts.
TOP TIGERS – Game One
- Sophomore SS Brooke Wilmes nearly led the Tigers to a miraculous comeback, as she went 4-4 on the day with two RBI and one run scored.
- Sophomore C Hatti Moore played another well-rounded game, going 1-2 at the plate with a run scored. She was also hit by a pitch.
- Junior P Eli Daniel was excellent against the Huskies, going two innings while notching three strikeouts and retiring six straight batters.
TURNING POINT
The Tigers gave up four runs in the first inning, two of which came by way of bases-loaded walks, and that proved to be too much to overcome.
Though the Tigers would make a game of it in the sixth inning, as Wilmes and freshman 1B Emma Raabe would score to cut it to 6-3, the Black & Gold offense would run out of gas late despite great defensive play for the rest of the game.
TOP TIGERS – Game Two
- Wilmes had another outstanding game against the Aggies, going 2-3 with two runs scored and four RBI, which led the team.
- Freshman SS Jazmyn Rollin had a strong showing in her first career start, going 2-3 with four RBI.
- Sophomore 3B Kim Wert and junior OF Gabby Garrison also had multi-RBI performances, registering two each in the win.
- Norman rebounded after an injury took her out against UCLA last night, giving up zero hits and zero runs over three innings pitched. Daniel and sophomore pitcher Summer Shockley were excellent in relief; neither of them allowed a hit to the Aggies, either.
TURNING POINT
The Tigers and Aggies looked to be headed for a defensive slugfest, but the Black & Gold simply exploded in the third inning.
All fifteen of the Tigers' runs came in the inning, with nine different Tigers crossing home plate. Wilmes and Rollin did most of the damage, registering a staggering eight RBI between them in the frame. The Tigers didn't register another run or hit in any other inning.
QUOTEABLES
"We just have to believe we can play with the Washingtons of the world," Coach Anderson said. "I think we outplayed them, but we just made too many mistakes. It's hard to swallow losses like that, especially when you see the potential we have. That potential took center stage against New Mexico State. That kind of performance is what this group is capable of when we play like a unit."
UP NEXT
Mizzou will travel to Louisville, Ky., next week to participate in the Louisville Invitational.
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