MOBILE, Ala. – No. 19/20 Mizzou Softball finishes the weekend with a 5-0 record after defeating Middle Tennessee State in a run-rule victory. The Tigers were led by a dominant pitching performance from true freshman Laurin Krings and supported offensively by a pair of career firsts.
Mizzou was the home team in the contest. After a perfect inning from Krings, Brooke Wilmes got the Mizzou bats started early with a single through the right side. After Wilmes stole second base, Kimberly Wert lined a double to center field to bring her around to score, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
Laurin Krings sent the Blue Raider lineup down in order in the first three innings. The Tigers got back on the board for two more in the third inning on a Cayla Kessinger sac fly and another Kimberly Wert RBI double to left. Mizzou led 3-0 after the third.
TURNING POINT
Mizzou broke the game open in the fourth inning. After Laurin Krings stranded the only MTSU runner that reached base in the contest, Jenna Laird led off the bottom-half of the inning with line-drive over the center field wall for her first-career home run. Jazmyn Rollin then drew a walk, stole a base and provided some aggressive baserunning that allowed her and Abby George to score.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Tigers added another run on a Jazmyn Rollin double down the right field line, scoring Alex Honnold. Mizzou led 7-0 at the end of the fifth and just needed to add one more for the run-rule to be in effect. In the sixth inning, Laurin Krings provided another clean inning for the Tigers and Mizzou looked to add another run to close out the game.
Megan Moll provided a pinch-hit single that deflected off the pitcher’s leg. She advanced to second base on a fielder’s choice. Katherine Kadlec then pinch hit for only her second career at bat. Kadlec took two big cuts at the first pitches she saw, fouling one off. On the third pitch of the at bat, Kadlec knocked a single into left that dropped, allowing Moll to score and end the game.
TOP TIGERS
Laurin Krings controlled the game from start to finish. The freshman pitcher six innings, allowing only one hit and striking out seven batters.
Abby George went 3-for-3 on the day while scoring two runs.
Kimberly Wert had another big day for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
NOTES
For the second-straight week, a Tiger pitcher has finished one single shy of a perfect game. Last week, Jordan Weber was one single shy of perfection.
Jenna Laird blasted her first-career home run in the fourth inning.
Alex Honnold and Brooke Wilmes each continued their hitting streaks. Honnold stands at eight games while Wilmes extends her streak to twelve games.
Katherine Kadlec recorded her first career hit and RBI on her walk-off single in the sixth inning.
Mizzou swept through the competition at the South Alabama Invitational. Five players were named to the all-tournament team: Laurin Krings, Brooke Wilmes, Cayla Kessinger, Kimberly Wert and Alex Honnold.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will travel to Norman, Oklahoma for the Courtyard Marriott Tournament for five games.
