University of Missouri
34-10, 0
Arkansas
37-7, 0
No. 18/19 Mizzou Softball Dominates No. 8/6 Arkansas to Take Series
4/25/2021 8:47:00 PM | Softball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 18/19 Mizzou Softball dominated every facet of the game en route to a 10-1 victory over No. 8/6 Arkansas.
After a quiet first inning, Mizzou jumped out in front in the top of the second inning with a solo home run down the left field line from Cayla Kessinger. It was Kessinger's ninth home run of the season and the 31st of her career.
Arkansas was quick to answer, however. Catcher Kayla Green drove a solo home run over the left field wall in the bottom half of the inning to knot it back up at one. After a single and a fielder's choice, Laurin Krings entered to record the final out of the inning. Arkansas did not record another hit for the remainder of the game and only produced one baserunner.
Mizzou regained the lead in the third. Brooke Wilmes led off the inning with her 16th double of the season and the 52nd of her career, taking sole possession of third on the Mizzou doubles list. After a Jenna Laird single to move Wilmes up a base, a double play scored Wilmes from third to put the Mizzou lead at 2-1.
The Tigers got back on the board in the fourth inning. For the second-straight game, Kendyll Bailey rocked a two-out solo home run to left field. This time, she did it on the first pitch she saw. Bailey's homer put Missouri up 3-1. Arkansas' sole baserunner reached in the bottom of the fourth on an HBP. Laurin Krings prevented her from getting past first and the inning closed on a diving catch from Casidy Chaumont in foul territory.
TURNING POINT
Both teams went down in order in the fifth, but the Tigers were able to really break it open in the sixth. Kimberly Wert got the rally started with a one-out double off the left field wall. After Kessinger reached on an error, Emma Raabe brought in a run to extend the lead to 4-1. Kendyll Bailey singled to center to load the bases. Brooke Wilmes stepped up to the plate with two outs in the inning. Wilmes lined the 0-1 pitch over the center field wall for a grand slam to put the game out of reach.
However, the Tigers were not done scoring. Kimberly Wert drove a two-run home run high in the air, just over the left field wall in the top of the seventh to add to the onslaught.
TOP TIGERS
Laurin Krings was dominant out of the bullpen. The freshman pitcher went 5.1 innings with five strikeouts while allowing zero hits, zero walks and only one baserunner.
Brooke Wilmes had a pair of extra base hits in the contest with a double and a grand slam.
Kendyll Bailey had another multi-hit game. She went 2-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run and a single.
Casidy Chaumont wowed with her glove in the contest making a pair of diving catches. She also went 1-for-3 at the plate while also getting hit by a pitch. Chaumont has reached base safely in 16 consecutive games.
Cayla Kessinger put the Tigers on top with her solo blast in the second. Kessinger went 2-for-4 on the day, also adding a single.
NOTES
Brooke Wilmes hit her second grand slam of the season. She set a new career-high with seven home runs of the season.
Wilmes also moved into third on the Mizzou doubles list with her 52nd-career double. It was her 16th of the season, which is tied for fourth in Tiger history for a single season.
Laurin Krings earned her first win in SEC play. She defeated Ole Miss for her first career win earlier in the season, but it did not count towards the conference record.
Kendyll Bailey homered in back-to-back games for the first time in her career.
Jenna Laird recorded her fifth-straight multi-hit game with a pair of singles.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will look to sweep the series on Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Krings, Laurin (7-2)
L: Jenna Bloom (8-2)
Batting:
2B: Wilmes, Brooke 1 ; Wert, Kimberly 1
HR: Wilmes, Brooke 1 ; Wert, Kimberly 1 ; Kessinger, Cayla 1 ; Bailey, Kendyll 1
RBI: Wilmes, Brooke 4 ; Moore, Hatti 1 ; Wert, Kimberly 2 ; Kessinger, Cayla 1 ; Raabe, Emma 1 ; Bailey, Kendyll 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilmes, Brooke 2 ; Chaumont, Casidy 1 ; Wert, Kimberly 1 ; McGivern, Hannah 1 ; Kessinger, Cayla 1 ; Myint, Imani 1 ; Cook, Kendal 1 ; Bailey, Kendyll 2
SB: Laird, Jenna 1
HBP: Chaumont, Casidy 1
Batting:
HR: Kayla Green 1
RBI: Kayla Green 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kayla Green 1
HBP: Linnie Malkin 1
