University of Missouri
5-2
Florida Atlantic
2-7
No. 21 Mizzou Softball Sweeps Doubleheader with Big Bats, Strong Pitching
2/21/2021 8:43:00 PM | Softball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – No. 21 Mizzou Softball swept FAU in a doubleheader on Sunday. The Tigers launched six home runs in the two games and the team was backed up by strong pitching performances from Emma Nichols and Jordan Weber.
GAME ONE
In the opening game, the Owls struck first, scoring in the second inning after leading off with a double, followed by a sacrifice bunt to move the runner and an RBI single. However, Mizzou answered quickly, scoring a run in the third inning on a Cayla Kessinger RBI double.
In the fourth, the Tigers took the lead after Alex Honnold ripped a pinch-hit double down the right field line that drove in two runs. Emma Raabe followed up the double with her first home run of the season to make it 5-1 for the Tigers.
The Owls were able to claw back into the game, scoring in the fourth inning on an RBI groundout and then in the sixth inning on a solo home run.
TURNING POINT
Mizzou was able to put the game away for good in the top of the seventh inning by scoring six runs in the frame. Cayla Kessinger broke open the inning with a two-run shot to left-center to put the Tigers up 7-3, her second of the season. After a Hatti Moore walk, Kimberly Wert drove a double to the left field wall. Wert would come around to score on a wild pitch to put the score at 9-3. However, the scoring was not done. Riley Frizell entered the game as a pinch hitter and knocked the first home run of her career over the right field wall in the corner, putting Mizzou up 11-3. Megan Schumacher would enter to close out the game in the bottom-half of the seventh.
TOP TIGERS
Cayla Kessinger was key to the Tigers' victory in the first game. She went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double, while driving in three runs.
Kimberly Wert had a big game at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run driven in, a double and one run scored.
Alex Honnold was a key contributor for the Tigers after entering the game in the fourth inning. She was 1-for-2 in the game with a big two-RBI double and a walk. The freshman also scored two runs in the contest.
Emma Nichols earned her first win of the season, going six innings with six strikeouts and three earned runs.
Emma Raabe smacked her first home run of the season on a two-run shot in the fourth inning. She also drew a walk.
NOTES
Riley Frizell launched the first home run of her career over the right-field corner.
Brooke Wilmes and Kimberly Wert continued their multi-hit streaks, each at five games.
GAME TWO
The second game of the doubleheader was highlighted by a dominant performance from Jordan Weber. The sophomore took a perfect game into the fifth inning, having it broken by an infield single on a very close play at first.
Mizzou jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning after Hatti Moore singled up the middle to bring in Cayla Kessinger, who had doubled.
As Weber continued to produce clean innings, Kimberly Wert came to the plate in the third and absolutely smoked a no-doubt home run over the left field wall to put Mizzou up 2-0.
TURNING POINT
Mizzou added three more runs in the fourth inning. Alex Honnold led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Jenna Laird RBI single. Brooke Wilmes slammed a two-run home run to center field to bring Laird home, her second of the season.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Tigers added two runs on a ground ball to second base, followed by a sacrifice fly from Emma Raabe to put the score at 7-0.
Jordan Weber's perfect game bid was drawn into the fifth inning. After she retired the first batter of the inning, the next batter chopped a ball in between the shortstop and third baseman. It was fielded cleanly by Laird and fired over to first base where the runner was called safe on a very close play.
In the top-half of the sixth inning, Kimberly Wert smashed her second tape-measure home run of the game, this time to right-center field to put two more runs on the board. Leading 9-0, the run-rule was now in play as the Tigers moved to the bottom half of the sixth. Weber registered another clean inning, as she was able to retire 18 of 19 batters in the game.
TOP TIGERS
Jordan Weber led the way for Mizzou with an impressive perfect-game bid. Only allowing one baserunner on the day, Weber struck out six batters with no runs or walks.
Kimberly Wert had a big two-home run day for Mizzou, going 3-for-4 at the plate. She also had a double and drove in three runs in the contest.
Alex Honnold had a productive contest for the Tigers. The freshman went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and an RBI.
Hatti Moore went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run driven in.
NOTES
Jordan Weber has taken a no-hit bid into the fifth inning in consecutive weeks. Against Memphis, she was able to take a no-hitter into the sixth inning where it was also broken up on an infield single.
Jenna Laird has scored a run in six consecutive games. She has scored in seven of the eight games of her career. The freshman currently holds a seven-game hitting streak.
Kimberly Wert has six-straight multi-hit games. She also added her second two-home run game of her career (Wichita State 4/3/19).
UP NEXT
Mizzou will head north to Orlando for a mid-week showdown with UCF.
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).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nichols, Emma (1-1)
L: Morgan, A (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Kessinger, Cayla 1 ; Wert, Kimberly 1 ; Chaumont, Casidy 1 ; Honnold, Alex 1
HR: Kessinger, Cayla 1 ; Raabe, Emma 1 ; Frizell, Riley 1
RBI: Kessinger, Cayla 3 ; Wert, Kimberly 1 ; Honnold, Alex 2 ; Raabe, Emma 2 ; Frizell, Riley 2
SH: Wilmes, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilmes, Brooke 1 ; Kessinger, Cayla 1 ; Moore, Hatti 1 ; Wert, Kimberly 1 ; Myint, Imani 1 ; Chaumont, Casidy 1 ; Honnold, Alex 2 ; Raabe, Emma 1 ; Frizell, Riley 1 ; Laird, Jenna 1
CS: Wilmes, Brooke 1
Batting:
2B: Berthiaume, 1 ; Burke, K 2 ; Jones, Zoey 1
HR: Burke, K 1
RBI: Burke, K 1 ; Davis, F. 1 ; Murray, Myah 1
SH: Cunningham, 1 ; Ennis, Riley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burke, K 2 ; Carlock, M 1
