No. 23/24 Mizzou Softball Splits Opening Day

2/12/2021 8:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - After an abrupt and unexpected conclusion to the 2021 season, No. 23/24 Mizzou Softball returned from a 338-day hiatus. The Tigers were anxious for the opportunity to play and they showed it in the first game of the day. The season opened with a matchup with the Memphis Tigers, followed by a showdown with host Florida State.

Game 1

Jordan Weber was able to set the tone in the opener, as she turned in a magnificent pitching performance. Weber stuck out the first batter and then Hatti Moore gunned down a Memphis runner at second base to end the inning and that trend continued throughout the game. The battery mates each provided a surge for Mizzou offensively and defensively that led to the win.

TURNING POINT

While holding a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning, the Tigers loaded the bases on a Casidy Chaumont single, Megan Moll walk and a Jenna Laird walk. After Wilmes flew out, Cayla Kessinger drew a walk to add one run to the Mizzou lead. Hatti Moore was next to the plate and she unleashed a towering grand slam to left field that put the game out of reach for good. It was her second home run of the day. Memphis was able slide one run across the plate in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 7-1, but Chaumont was able to answer with a rocket over the left field wall.

TOP TIGERS

Hatti Moore went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of home runs and five RBI. She also caught a runner stealing in the first inning.

Jordan Weber was in control during the entirety of her first outing of the season. The sophomore allowed only two hits through six innings of work.

Casidy Chaumont played her first game as a Mizzou Tiger, earning the start after transferring from Louisiana. Chaumont turned in her first Mizzou hit in the fifth inning, but then topped it with her first home run as a Tiger.

Jenna Laird recorded the first start of her career and recorded three walks. She reached base each time and scored a run.

Laurin Krings recorded her first save and strikeout as a Mizzou Tiger in the seventh inning

NOTES

Hatti Moore had her third-career multi-home run game. She also recorded her highest RBI total since she had six against Cal State Fullerton in the 2019 NCAA regional (5/17/19). Moore's second home run was the 20^th of her career.

Jordan Weber took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, having it broken on an infield single.

Mizzou has won four-straight season-opening games. Head Coach Larissa Anderson has yet to lose an opener as a Mizzou Tiger.

Cayla Kessinger's 15-game hitting streak was snapped, it is the fourth-longest in Mizzou history.

Game 2

No. 23/24 Mizzou took on the No. 12 Florida State Seminoles in the final game of the first day of the JoAnne Graf Classic. Mizzou jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, thanks to Hatti Moore's third home run of the day. Florida State responded resoundingly, taking the lead and putting the game out of reach in the fourth.

TURNING POINT

After Mizzou tied the game at two in the bottom of the fourth inning, Florida State responded by quickly ripping two singles to put runners on first and third. A sacrifice fly brought the first run home to give the Seminoles a 3-2 lead. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second base where then, the runner was able to steal third base. The runner scored on a throwing error, giving the Seminoles a 4-2 lead.

The next batter launched a two-run home run over the left-field wall to give Florida State a 6-2 lead that was seemingly insurmountable.

TOP TIGERS

Hatti Moore hit her third home run of the day in the first inning.

Kimberly Wert smacked a solo home run to tie the game in the fourth inning, the 23^rd of her Mizzou career. Wert is just three home runs away from cracking the Mizzou all-time Top-10 list.

NOTES

Mizzou had two freshmen record their first career hits in the same game as Jenna Laird singled in the third and Alex Honnold singled in the seventh inning. Honnold recorded the first start of her career.

Mizzou falls to 7-2 all-time against Florida State.