COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Softball (29-18, 10-8) took care of business in its weekday doubleheader against Southeast Missouri State (35-14), winning game one 4-3 and game two 4-1. Mizzou's bats seemed to enjoy coming through in the late innings on Tuesday night at Mizzou Softball Stadium, as the Tigers outscored SEMO 6-0 in the fifth inning or later over the two-game span. Meanwhile, Mizzou starting pitchers Madi Norman and Cassie Gasper were both effective in their 6.0-inning outings, holding the Redhawks to just four combined runs. Gasper posted a career-high eight strikeouts in her game two start. Reliever Eli Daniel earned two saves on the day, working perfect seventh innings in both of the victories.
On the offensive end, the Tigers saved most of their scoring for the later innings of each ballgame. In game one, sixth-inning home runs from freshman SS Jazmyn Rollin and sophomore 3B Kimberly Wert rescued the squad from a 3-1 deficit. Meanwhile, game two was highlighted by two-out RBI knocks from senior 1B Kolby Romaine and redshirt freshman 2B Kendyll Bailey in the bottom of the fifth, breaking a 1-1 deadlock. Sophomore CF Brooke Wilmes impressed at the plate in the nightcap, going 2-for-2 with a double, a home run, two walks and a stolen base.
TOP TIGERS – GAME ONE
- Mizzou got on the board in the first inning thanks to a soft infield single from sophomore DP Kara Decker. Decker collected her 18th RBI of the season.
- Rollin went deep in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving her eight home runs and 30 RBI this season.
- Wert delivered when the Tigers needed it most, crushing a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. Wert has a team-leading 17 home runs and is one of only four Mizzou players ever to hit 17 or more bombs in one season.
- Norman settled in after allowing three SEMO runs in the first inning. The righty hurler allowed just three runs on two hits while striking out seven in her 6.0-inning outing. She now has 102 strikeouts through 135.2 innings this season, marking the first time in her career with 100 Ks in a season.
TURNING POINT – GAME ONE
With the Tigers trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Rollin turned on an inside pitch and deposited a home run onto the right-field berm. Rollin's eighth round-tripper of the season pulled Mizzou within a run. Sophomore C Hatti Moore followed with a single into center field to set the stage for Wert. The slugging third baseman worked a 2-1 count and then sent a two-run shot to left-center field to give Mizzou its first lead of the ballgame.
Daniel entered in the top of the seventh in relief of Norman. Daniel worked a 1-2-3 inning and earned her seventh save of the season.
TOP TIGERS – GAME TWO
- Gasper dominated in the circle in game two, collecting a career-high eight strikeouts and allowing only four hits through 6.0 innings of one-run ball.
- Wilmes cranked a longball in the bottom of the sixth to add to Mizzou's advantage, making the score 4-1. The solo shot was Wilmes's fourth home run of the season. Wilmes had a stellar game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and a pair of walks while also swiping a base.
- Daniel earned her second save of the day by working a perfect seventh inning. Daniel continues to add to her all-time Mizzou single-season saves record, posting eight so far this season.
- Senior LF Regan Nash collected singles in both the first and sixth innings finishing the night with a 2-for-3 clip at the dish.
TURNING POINT – GAME TWO
In the bottom of the fifth with the game knotted at one, Rollin and Moore reached base to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Romaine sent an RBI single into center field to score Rollin and give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Bailey followed with an RBI single that glanced of the pitcher's glove and sat in no man's land. After the pair of two-out hits, the Tigers held a two-run lead.
After a leadoff Redhawk double in the top of the sixth, Gasper induced a fly out to centerfield and a SEMO baserunner attempted to advance to third base on the play. However, the runner was ruled to have left early and the Tigers collected a key double play to clear the bases and tame the scoring threat. Gasper picked up a strikeout to end the inning and preserve the two-run lead.
QUOTEABLES
"Our defense and our pitching have been the constants for us recently," Coach Anderson said. "It's big that both the bottom and the top of the order clicked at the right time for us. We have players that like big moments. Jazmyn and Kim, even Emma (Raabe) came up huge in big spots tonight."
UP NEXT
Mizzou opens a weekend series against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Friday night in Starkville, Mississippi. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, May 26.
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).
