In a game announced just two days before it was played, Missouri softball defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 5-1 Wednesday. The Tigers improved to 11-8 on the season behind a strong pitching performance from redshirt sophomore Madi Norman.

Norman threw four strong innings, allowing no runs and striking out four. Sophomore Danielle Baumgartner replaced Norman in the fifth inning and pitched an inning and two-thirds, allowing one earned run and striking out two batters.

Norman re-entered in the bottom of the sixth with two runners on and two out, and pitched Missouri to safety, allowing only one run to score to keep the Tigers ahead by three.

The Tigers stretched the lead to 5-1 in the seventh inning off of an Illinois error, and from that point, the game was a wrap. Norman closed Illinois out to earn her sixth win of the year, bouncing back from two shaky starts against No. 4 Oregon. She finished with six strikeouts, allowing just two hits in her five and two-thirds innings.

The Tigers scored in the first inning off senior Natalie Fleming’s sacrifice fly to right field that scored sophomore Rylee Pierce, who had singled to open the game. Pierce’s hit extended her hitting streak to seven games, a team high.

Pierce added an RBI in the second inning, driving in redshirt junior Anna Reed with a sacrifice fly. Fleming smacked a two-run home run in the third, her fourth of the season. She finished the game with three RBI’s, pushing her season total to 13.

Next, Missouri heads to Gainesville, Florida to take on No. 1 Florida. It marks the start of Southeastern Conference play for both teams, and the teams will play three games over the course of Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The Tigers will be looking for their third win this season over a ranked opponent, having previously beaten No. 14 James Madison and No. 7 Washington.

_Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com_