No. 21 Mizzou Softball Splits Saturday's Games

2/20/2021 7:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. – No. 21 Mizzou Softball split their opening-day matchups in FAU's "Strike-Out Cancer" Tournament. After not having a tournament to play in after the Getterman Classic was canceled due to weather, the Tigers headed to Boca Raton for two days.

GAME ONE

In the opening game, Mizzou took on Iowa State in a back-and-forth affair. The Tigers were able to jump out to an early 3-1 lead, thanks to a two-run blast by Brooke Wilmes, her first of the season.

Iowa State responded by snagging three runs in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. In the fourth inning, Hatti Moore responded and smashed a solo home run to tie the game, her fourth of the young season. After a Kimberly Wert single and a Casidy Chaumont walk, Jenna Laird ripped a two-out, two-RBI single to give Mizzou a 6-4 lead.

TURNING POINT

The Cyclones were immediately able to regain the lead in the bottom half of the fourth as they scored five runs to pull ahead, at 9-6. Each of the runs were scored with 2 outs in the inning and none of them were earned. Mizzou was close to getting out of the inning a number of times, but an error, a bloop-single and a bouncing ball through the middle kept it going.

Mizzou threatened in the seventh inning with a Hatti Moore two-RBI single, but the Tigers ran out of outs, leaving two runners in scoring position when the game finished.

TOP TIGERS

Brooke Wilmes once again delivered for the Tigers. The senior was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and three driven in. Wilmes led off the game with a double and drove her first home run of the season over the center field wall in the third inning.

Hatti Moore had another productive game, launching her team-high fourth blast of the season. Moore drove in two runs in the seventh inning, giving the Tigers a chance.

Jenna Laird came up big for the Tigers once again, as the freshman went 2-for-3 in the opener. Laird drove in two runs on a big two-out single.

NOTES

After her home run in the third inning, Brooke Wilmes had reached base in 10-consecutive plate appearances, dating back to her 7-for-7 day against Florida State and Memphis.

GAME TWO

In the second game of the day, Mizzou saw a familiar opponent in Ole Miss. Despite the Southeastern Conference connection, this game was considered a non-conference matchup.

The Tigers once-again got off to a fast start with a Cayla Kessinger solo-shot in the first inning. In the second, Brooke Wilmes again delivered for Mizzou with a bouncing ball towards the shortstop that made its way into the outfield, scoring Jenna Laird and Emma Raabe. After an Ole Miss run in the top half of the third, Kimberly Wert smashed her second home run of the season to give Mizzou a 4-1 lead.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou put the game out of reach in the fourth inning, when Brooke Wilmes and Cayla Kessinger drove in runs on consecutive hits with two outs to put the Tigers up 6-1. Laurin Krings was able to control the Ole Miss bats for the majority of the afternoon, only allowing two earned runs in six innings of work.

TOP TIGERS

Brooke Wilmes once again set the tone for the Tigers, going 2-for-4 with a double and driving in three runs.

Cayla Kessinger also had a productive afternoon for Mizzou, going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Kessinger delivered her first home run of the season in the first inning.

Kimberly Wert ripped a home run over the left field wall as a part of her 2-for-3 day at the plate.

Laurin Krings delivered a strong performance on the mound, going six innings and only allowing two earned runs. The freshman also struck out four in the game.

Sophie Dandola entered to a tough situation in the seventh inning, but she was able to get out of it for her first save of the season.

NOTES

Laurin Krings was able to earn her first win of her career for her performance against Ole Miss.

Jenna Laird has scored at least one run in each of the last four games.

Brooke Wilmes and Kimberly Wert have each rattled-off four straight multi-hit games.

UP NEXT

Mizzou will play two games tomorrow against host FAU.

Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Softball. Tiger fans can also follow the program on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouSoftball).