Missouri softball coach Ehren Earleywine gave freshman pinch hitter Kelsi Jones the scorecard to put in her scrapbook after the Tigers’ game against the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday at University Field.

Earlier Friday night, Jones had belted her third home run of the year, a three-run walk-off in the fifth inning.

Jones isn’t the only freshman bat making an impact for the Tigers, though.

Earleywine typically starts at least four freshmen every game: second baseman Corrin Genovese (two home runs, 13 RBIs), second baseman Ashtin Stephens (four RBIs), third baseman Angela Randazzo (one home run, 10 RBIs) and first baseman Kelsea Roth (one home run, 9 RBIs).

Genovese, an infielder from East Amherst, N.Y., regularly hits after leadoff catcher Jenna Marston.

Earleywine said Genovese made the difference against Kansas on Friday as she was able to handle the short game that the Jayhawks were trying against redshirt junior pitcher Chelsea Thomas.

Roth has been a slugging sensation for Missouri this season as well.

Earleywine said the freshmen should play a large role in the team’s success in conference play.

“It’s big because we always have Genovese, Randazzo, Stephens and Roth in the lineup all the time,” Earleywine said. “And they’re not just in the lineup, they’re hitting in the two-spot and the five-spot so they’ve got to do good.”

Roth was out of the lineup during Missouri’s home series with Kansas with a bruised wrist after being hit by a pitch. She is expected to be out for only a few days, but holding a bat still troubles her, Earlywine said Friday.

With Roth out, sophomore Mackenzie Sykes has been manning first base.

Earleywine isn’t the only one who sees how important the freshmen will be when the Tigers play their Big 12 Conference opponents.

“I think the upper classmen are getting comfortable with the freshmen stepping up,” Thomas said. “We were all nervous about how they were going to handle Big 12 play, but they play great defense behind me and they’re hitting the ball like crazy, so what else can you ask for?”

When adding the freshmen to the power-hitting upperclassmen such as senior outfielder Ashley Fleming and junior outfielder Nicole Hudson, Missouri has a tough lineup for opposing pitchers. Thomas said she appreciates her offense getting runs early in the games.

“It takes so much pressure away from me,” Thomas said. “(When we’re ahead), that’s just time for me to throw strikes and for our defense to work behind me.”

The Tigers also have a deep lineup defensively, as well, after signing freshman Bailey Erwin to help Thomas’ load. Erwin came in during the second game against the Jayhawks to relieve Thomas and has started several games already this season.

With Missouri winning 15 straight and boasting a 20-3 overall record on the season heading into its double-header against Iowa on Wednesday, it seems as though Earleywine has laced his team together just in time for conference play. But he said he hasn’t changed anything.

“I don’t think it was anything I did,” Earleywine said. “I just think it’s the maturation of some of our players. We’re finally finding the right pieces.”