Freshman starting pitcher Laurin Krings pitched six shut-out innings in Missouri’s 8-0 victory against Middle Tennessee State Sunday morning, as she attacked the zone with little fear of the opposing offense.
She threw her outs early in the count, as 15 of Middle Tennessee’s 18 plate appearances didn’t go past four pitches. Krings also delivered seven strikeouts, two of which came at key points in the game. She threw 50 strikes on just 69 pitches, dominating the Blue Raiders’ offense.
Krings’ one-hit shutout secured Missouri’s fifth win in as many games during the weekend.
Errors provoking a Missouri rally in the bottom of the third inning would turn the tide against Middle Tennessee.
With Missouri up 1-0, senior right fielder Abby George led off the fourth inning with a single to third base. A throwing error by senior third baseman Jocelynn De La Cruz allowed George to advance to second, with the top of the lineup getting their second look at junior starting pitcher Kailey Ahlstrom.
Ahlstrom stayed in her zone, but her defense failed to support her. She forced back-to-back flyouts from senior outfielders Brooke Wilmes and Cayla Kessinger and scored George on a sacrifice fly.
With two outs, De La Cruz again committed a throwing error to put senior catcher Hatti Moore on first. Senior third baseman Kim Wert then hit her second double of the game to left field, which advanced Moore to third. Senior shortstop Summer Burgess committed a throwing error as well, allowing Moore to score and Wert to advance to third.
The inning deflated the Blue Raider effort, and little could shake Krings from her groove.
The only threat Middle Tennessee made came in the fourth inning, when Burgess singled to right and advanced to second on an error by George in right field. With the game still in reach for the Blue Raiders, Burgess advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, giving the Blue Raiders two easy chances to drive her in.
Krings, still in her groove, tossed back-to-back strikeouts and ended the Blue Raiders’ only chance at scoring a run.
Missouri scored three runs in the fourth inning with freshman shortstop Jenna Laird’s home run and another poor defensive sequence from the Blue Raiders.
With a runner on second and no outs, George bunted down the third baseline to reach first safely and advanced junior designated player Jazmyn Rollin to third. As the second baseman threw back to third base attempting to back-pick Rollin, George managed to advance to second.
Wilmes then hit a grounder to freshman second baseman Amaya Harris. Harris tried to throw Rollin out at home, but the throw missed the catcher, and both Rollin and George scored as Wilmes advanced to second.
The Tigers play in the Courtyard Marriott tournament in Norman, Oklahoma next. They start on Friday against Louisiana-Monroe and the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners.
_Edited by Kyle Pinnell | kpinnell@themaneater.com_
