No. 18/19 Mizzou Softball Completes Sweep of Mississippi State on Senior Day

Sunday, April 18

Columbia, Mo.

3 p.m. CT

University of Missouri

32-10, 10-5

Mississippi State

22-19, 0-12

Mississippi State

Missouri

No. 18/19 Mizzou Softball Completes Sweep of Mississippi State on Senior Day

4/18/2021 9:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. – On senior day, No. 18/19 Mizzou Softball (32-10, 10-5) was able to complete the sweep with a 6-5 victory over the visiting Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Prior to the contest, the Mizzou Softball program honored their six seniors, Sophie Dandola, Kara Decker, Katherine Kadlec, Cayla Kessinger, Hatti Moore and Imani Myint. Additionally, Mizzou recognized their two Graduate Assistants in Brittany Gray and DJ Sanders.

The Tigers found themselves down early in the contest. Mississippi State led off the game with a walk, and Fa Leilua drove a two-run home run over the left-center field wall to put the Bulldogs on top 2-0.

The Tigers responded quickly, however. Brooke Wilmes, Jenna Laird and Hatti Moore each drew walks to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first. Casidy Chaumont ripped a sharp grounder to first base that was mishandled and allowed her to reach, while scoring Wilmes from third. Then, Kimberly Wert ripped the first pitch she saw into left field for a two-run single, scoring Laird and Moore while giving the Tigers an early 3-2 lead.

Mizzou got back on the board in the bottom of the second. Abby George led off with a single and the late throw from the Bulldog third baseman was too high, allowing George to get all the way to third. Brooke Wilmes then knocked a single up the middle to bring her home, putting the score at 4-2 for the Tigers.

Laurin Krings got into some trouble in the top of the third, allowing the first two batter to reach safely. However, she would go on to retire each of the next eight batters in a row. Her streak was broken up by a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning by Mia Davidson as the Bulldogs narrowed the Mizzou lead to 4-3.

The Tigers would again get the run back in the bottom half of the inning, after Jenna Laird led off the inning with a single, moved around the bases and scored on a wild pitch.

TURNING POINT

The Bulldogs were able to get two runners in scoring position with only one out in the top of the sixth inning, trailing by two. A two-out single up the middle by Chloe Malau'ulu scored two runs for Mississippi State and tied the ballgame at five runs apiece.

Mizzou once again responded quickly. Emma Raabe led off the inning with a double into right-center. Imani Myint entered the game to pinch run for Raabe before Kendyll Bailey drew a walk and was ran for by Hannah McGivern. With two outs and runners on first and second, Jenna Laird came to the plate. The freshman came through in the clutch once again for Mizzou, knocking a single back up the middle that was fielded by the shortstop. The speed of Imani Myint turned out to be the difference for Mizzou, because the senior did not stop on her way around third and was able to score the go-ahead run for the Tigers.

Jordan Weber entered in the seventh and retired all three batters that she faced to clinch the game and the series sweep.

TOP TIGERS

Jenna Laird had a massive weekend for the Tigers. In the finale, she went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles, two runs scored and the game-winning RBI.

Laurin Krings went five innings, allowing only two earned runs and striking out five batters.

Jordan Weber entered in the seventh and closed out the game by retiring all three batters that she faced, earning her first-career save.