Box Score COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Softball (20-14, 6-6) opened up the Mizzou Tournament with a bang, defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers (5-30, 2-10) by a score of 9-2. Mizzou has now won three in a row, and has scored at least seven runs in each of those wins.
Following a slow start, sophomore P Cassie Gasper settled into a nice rhythm. After allowing the second run of the night via a bases loaded walk, Gasper went on to retire the next 10 batters in order on the way to her fourth complete game of the season. In games where Gasper goes a full 7.0, she is a perfect 3-0 this year.
TOP TIGERS
- Sophomore C Hatti Moore enjoyed one of her best offensive games of the season, collecting a pair of doubles, as well as two RBI. It was the first time Moore had multiple extra-base hits in a game this season, and the two RBIs matched a season high. Her three-hit game is her third this season, the most on the team.
- Senior 1B Kolby Romaine was responsible for the three-run second inning, driving in each of the runs on her fourth home run of the season. Romaine added a single the following inning, as she registered her eighth multi-hit game this season.
- Sophomore 3B Kimberly Wert hit her team-leading 14th home run of the season in the fourth inning to extend the Tiger lead to 8-2. She needs just six to tie the all-time Mizzou record.
TURNING POINT
After falling in the hole early on, Mizzou sparked a rally in the bottom of the second inning. Moore got it started with a one-out double, and two batters later, Romaine smacked a three-run home run to deep left-center. The Tigers took control of the lead and never relinquished it.
The bats did not quiet after the second, though. The Tigers kept their foot on the gas, adding three more runs the following inning and two more in the fourth to extend the lead to 8-2. Sophomore CF Callie Martin's fifth-inning home run added another insurance run.
QUOTEABLES
"This is a confident group," Coach Anderson said. "Our offense has been hot lately, but I told the team after, we could hit the ball 15 times and not score any runs. We have to continue to respect the game, because at the end of the day, the game doesn't care what your record is. You have to bring it every day."
UP NEXT
Mizzou picks the action back up tomorrow at Mizzou Softball Stadium in another matchup with Pittsburgh, followed by a night cap against Oregon. The games will begin at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. respectively, and can both be viewed on SEC Network +.
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).
