By Barbara Maningat

Missouri Tiger bats were slow to make noise this series – but they wasted no time in Game 3. The Tigers blasted seven straight unanswered runs in the first two innings, completing the series sweep with a shutout over the Baylor Bears on Sunday, 7-0. This game extended Missouri’s home winning streak to 21 straight and moved the team to a 28-5 record on the season, 7-2 in Big 12 play.

The Tigers managed a 4-2 win on Saturday and ended Game 2 eager for offensive contact earlier in the game.

Freshman Kelsea Roth said Missouri batters modified their approach for Game 3.

“We came up with a better plan today and we came out knowing what we need to hit and how to adjust, the adjustments we didn’t make for yesterday’s game,” Roth said.

Roth went 2-for-7 with no runs and no RBIs in the first two games of the series, so she made some adjustments for Game 3 as she went.

“They’ve been throwing me inside for most of the series, so I was just looking for the inside,” Roth said. “It definitely felt a lot better because I wasn’t doing too hot this series.”

The adjustments were obvious from the first at-bat.

Ashley Fleming began the four-run rally with a one-run double to right field to score Corrin Genovese. Roth then struck her fourth home run of the season to score Fleming.

Lindsey Muller and Kelsea Jones finished the first inning with back-to-back singles. Muller scored on a throwing error.

The Tigers loaded the bases again in the second inning and added three more runs for the early 7-0 lead. Jenna Marston, Genovese and Nicole Hudson were on base when Fleming singled for an RBI. Genovese later scored on a walk by Roth and Muller reached on a fielder’s choice to contribute the last RBI of the game.

While Missouri batters kept swinging, pitcher Chelsea Thomas kept Baylor batters idle. She shut out the Bears with 10 strikeouts and allowed only two hits, improving to 14-3 on the season.

“We cut back on the changeup and tried to get easy outs,” Thomas said. “And it worked out. That was our only adjustment from yesterday’s game for pitching.”

Tiger heads now turn to a big three-game series against the No. 6 Texas Longhorns in Austin, beginning Thursday, April 5.

By Barbara Maningat

Before the sixth inning, the Missouri Tigers only had two hits – until their bats came alive. Hudson hit a grand slam that swung the Tigers ahead to a 4-2 victory in Game 2 over the Baylor Bears.

The Bears scored first with a two-run homer by pinch hitter Shelbi Redfearn in the top of the fifth inning. The Tigers closed the inning scoreless, leaving them anxious to retaliate.

Then the Tigers responded.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ashtin Stephens sparked some hope with a single to left field. Corrin Genovese then struck out swinging, but back-to-back walks by Jenna Marston and Ashley Fleming loaded the bases for Hudson’s grand slam.

“I was right in the spot that I wanted to be and she left me something out there I could get a hold of,” Hudson said. “I think I’ve hit the outside pitch well and the inside pitch well, but I’m feeling pretty confident at this point.”

She also said the Tiger offense needs improvement for Sunday’s game.

“I think everyone wants to come out swinging and come out with a plan and jump on them a lot earlier. We should have hit a lot better than we did today, but I think we’ll make up for it tomorrow,” Hudson said.

Kristin Nottelmann started off for the Tigers on the mound and threw little for the Bears to bite.

“One of Baylor’s general weaknesses was hitting the change-up and I think it worked perfectly today,” Nottelmann said.

She pitched five and one-third innings and struck out four, allowing four hits and two earned runs. Bailey Erwin relieved Nottelmann to close the sixth and allowed only one hit. Chelsea Thomas then came in for the save in the seventh.

With two wins in the three-game series, the Tigers look to complete the sweep over Baylor in Game 3, Sunday at noon.

“Anything less [than a sweep] is a disappointment,” Hudson said.

If Missouri takes the third win, they would extend their home winning streak to 21-straight and bolster momentum into a pivotal series against No. 6 Texas starting April 5.

By Barbara Maningat

View this article on KBIA Sports Extra

No. 19 Texas A&M served up some solid competition, defeating No. 10 Missouri softball team in a tight three-game series at College Station. Missouri ended their 17-game winning streak in Game 1 Friday with a 2-1 loss, but hope struck when the Tigers took the 6-5 win in Game 2. Game 3 went seven innings without a run and ended the game with an Aggie run in the bottom of the eighth.

The Tigers simply could not deliver from the plate as Aggie pitcher Mel Dumezich took control of the game.

Dumezich proved to be a threat from the mound and at bat in the first game; she issued seven strikeouts and contributed two runs with the game-winning home run in the first inning. Tiger Kelsea Roth contributed the only run for the Tigers with a double to center, scoring Corrin Genovese. The Tigers managed four hits to counter Dumezich, but it was not enough as they fell 2-1.

Dumezich allowed just enough leeway in Game 2 for the Tigers to capitalize and take the win. After Roth doubled to score Jenna Marston in the first, the game came alive in the second inning as the Tigers added five runs. Genovese doubled to left field, scoring Princess Krebs and pushing Ashtin Stephens to scoring position. Marston then singled and sent Stephens and Genovese home for a 4-0 lead. Later, Roth hit a double to left field and sent Marston home and Ashley Fleming to third base after she drew a walk. Fleming then scored an unearned run to close the inning. Two outs into the second inning, the Aggies sent in Lauren Ainsley to relieve Dumezich. Missouri responded with five runs against Ainsley, ending the second game with a tight 6-0 Tiger victory.

It was the battle of the pitchers in the series closer. Missouri’s Chelsea Thomas threw seven and one-third innings allowing only two hits, one error and the game-winning run, while Dumezich allowed just one hit to Genovese in the third inning. Combined, the pitchers kept the batters quiet for seven full innings until Aggie Jenna Stark hit a double to score Cassie Tysarczyk for the win in the extra inning.

Genovese and Roth led the Tigers in hitting, contributing a combined eight hits on the series – but the team recorded only 11 hits on the series, six of them from game two.

Thomas is now 11-3 on the season and the Tigers fall to 23-5 overall, 4-2 in conference play. Missouri will return to Columbia to host a doubleheader against the Evansville Aces on Wednesday, starting at 3 p.m.