No. 17/20 Mizzou Softball Clinches Road Series at South Carolina

Friday, April 2

Columbia, SC

5 p.m. CT

University of Missouri

27-7, 5-3

South Carolina

17-12, 0-8

Missouri

South Carolina

No. 17/20 Mizzou Softball Clinches Road Series at South Carolina

4/2/2021 10:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 17/20 Mizzou Softball jumped in front in the third inning and led from start to finish in a 7-3 series-clinching victory over South Carolina.

After a scoreless first and second, the Tigers got things rolling in the top of the third inning. Emma Raabe led off the inning with a walk and Abby George slapped a single to the left side of the infield. Brooke Wilmes then bunted for what seemed to be an RBI single, but she was called out for being out of the box. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners before Hatti Moore blasted her 13^th home run of the season over the center field wall to put the score at 3-0.

South Carolina was able to get runners on second and third in the bottom half of the third, but Megan Schumacher was able to get out of the inning without any damage.

Mizzou got back on the board in the fourth inning. Cayla Kessinger led off the inning with a single up the middle and Kendyll Bailey ripped a double into the right-center gap to get two in scoring position. After a fielder's choice was able to get a runner at home, the Tigers had runners on the corners once again. Abby George reached on an infield single to load the bases and Brooke Wilmes knocked a fly ball into right to bring home Bailey from third, putting the score at 4-0. Jenna Laird was the next batter to the plate, and she ripped a single up the middle to score another run.

TURNING POINT

Leading 5-0, the Tigers were unable to get anything going offensively in the fifth. The Gamecock batters came out swinging in the bottom half of the inning. The inning appeared to be off to a good start for the Tigers, retiring the first two batters on just two total pitches. However, back-to-back singles followed by a double put two on the board for Carolina. The next batter ripped a single into center to put the score at 5-3 in favor of Mizzou.

Kendyll Bailey provided some clutch hits down the stretch for the Tigers. Leading off the sixth, Bailey ripped a line drive into left-center field that was misplayed by the Carolina centerfielder. The outfielder's foot got stuck in the wall and Kendyll Bailey was able to round the bases for a solo inside-the-park home run.

In the seventh, Kendyll Bailey came up big once again. Caisdy Chaumont got the Tigers in business with a double off of the South Carolina third baseman's glove. After Chaumont moved over to third, Bailey ripped a single through the left side to bring her in, putting the score at 7-3.

Carolina was able to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, bringing the tying run to the plate. Laurin Krings was able to strike out the last two batters and earn her second save of the season.

TOP TIGERS

Kendyll Bailey had a huge day at the plate and in the field. The redshirt-junior went 3-for-4, just finishing a triple-shy of the cycle. She scored two runs and drove in two runs while also tying her career high with six assists in the field. She and Jenna Laird turned a key double-play in the bottom of the sixth.

As the other half of the double-play combination, Jenna Laird had a big night in her own right. Laird went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and one run driven in.

Abby George has just continued to hit. George was 3-for-3 at the plate with three singles, reaching in each appearance.

Casidy Chaumont had another multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

NOTES

Hatti Moore blasted her 31^st-career home run in the third inning with a three-run shot to center.

Kendyll Bailey ripped an inside-the-park home run in the sixth inning, for Mizzou's first inside-the-park homer since 2014.

Bailey also had her second-career three-hit game. She has now had two three-hit games in the span of a week after not having accomplished the feat in her first three seasons.

Abby George collected her second three-hit game of the season. She currently leads all qualifying SEC batters with a .560 batting average in SEC play.