The Missouri softball team had a quick turnaround from this weekend’s series with Kentucky, traveling to Iowa to play a doubleheader. The Tigers swept the doubleheader, with a first win 7–1 and a second win 11–4.
***Game One***
Missouri was the first team on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly from junior Chloe Rathburn. Two strikeouts from junior pitcher Tori Finucane and an impressive grab from sophomore Amanda Sanchez stranded one Iowa baserunner in the bottom of the first inning.
Two RBIs from seniors Taylor Gadbois and Emily Crane gave Mizzou a 3–0 lead heading into the third inning, with Finucane back in the pitching circle. Strong defense only allowed one hit from Iowa, but that runner was again stranded on second base to end the inning.
A two-RBI hit from junior Natalie Fleming widened Mizzou’s lead even more, but a dropped fly ball in front of freshman left fielder Regan Nash put Iowa on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning.
No runs were scored until the top of the sixth, when freshman Kolby Romaine hit her second career home run, a two run shot that brought the score to 7–1.
Junior relief pitcher Cheyenne Baxter, who came into the game during the bottom of the fourth inning, had four scoreless innings to end the first game.
Missouri had seven stolen bases during the first game, tying their all-time record.
***Game Two***
Game two started out quickly for Mizzou, with Crane, the second-hole batter, launching a two-run shot over the right fence. This was Crane’s 14th home run of the season.
Freshman pitcher Danielle Baumgartner started out in the circle for the Tigers, and the Hawkeyes were on the scoreboard quicker in this game with a sacrifice fly that brought one runner in.
The second inning looked mirrored the first inning for Mizzou, with Gadbois hitting a single and then stealing a base to end up on second base. Then, second-hole hitter Crane stepped up to the plate and jacked another home run to bring in two more runs.
Senior Sami Fagan followed her fellow seniors by ripping a double to right field. She was driven in by another double from Rathburn. An RBI groundout by Nash brought in one more for the Tigers, ending the frame with four runs and leading 6–1.
Mizzou was quickly back up to bat and Crane was yet again up to the plate, this time smashing a double that brought in Gadbois. That was the only run scored for the team in the top of the third inning.
The bottom of the fourth inning brought in three runs for the Hawkeyes, based off an error from Sanchez on a throw home. Mizzou was unable to widen the gap in the top of the fifth inning, the score still being 7–4.
Sophomore pitcher Paige Lowary now came in for relief, not letting any runs scored to keep the score the same. The next inning threatened another run for Iowa, but freshman third baseman Rylee Pierce showed a strong arm to get the out at home.
In the top of the seventh inning, Gadbois hit an RBI single to add one more to the score, followed by another RBI single from Fagan. With two outs, Rathburn smashed a line drive, bringing in two more runners.
The Missouri defense did not let up in the bottom of the seventh to end the game, winning 11–4. The Tigers will be back in Columbia this weekend looking for a series win against Texas A&M, starting Saturday evening.
_Edited by Tyler Kraft | tkraft@themaneater.com_