COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Softball completed the sweep over Ole Miss with a 3-1 victory, Sunday evening at Mizzou Softball Stadium. It is the first time Mizzou (19-6, 3-0 SEC) has swept a conference opener since joining the SEC in 2013.
The Tigers were in the hole early, surrendering a home run in the game’s opening frame to give Ole Miss (12-13, 0-3 SEC) a single-run advantage. However, Mizzou found its groove in the fourth inning, tacking on two runs to take the lead thanks to a RBI triple from Cayla Kessinger and RBI single from Kim Wert. The Tigers would add an insurance run in the fifth, solidifying their lead.
In the top of the seventh, Eli Daniel took the circle looking to complete the save. After an opening strikeout, Daniel found herself with a runner on second and the tying run at home plate. Daniel came through big, fanning Autumn Gillespie.
TURNING POINT
After the Rebels took an early lead with a run in the first, the Tigers offense fought back and took the lead in the fourth inning.
Sophomore Jazmyn Rollin led off the inning with a walk to put a runner on base. Redshirt junior Cayla Kessinger followed through with her second triple of the series to drive in Rollin and tie the game, 1-1.
With Kessinger on third, junior Kim Wert singled to left to give the Tigers the winning run.
TOP TIGERS
- Cayla Kessinger hit a RBI triple in the fourth inning, going 1-2 at the plate.
- Kim Wert went 1-3 at the plate with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
- Eli Daniel secured her fifth save of the season, throwing two strikeouts in one inning on the mound.
NOTES
- The win is Mizzou’s first sweep in a SEC opening series since the program joined the conference for the 2013 season.
- The Tigers swept a conference opponent for the first time since sweeping Texas A&M last season. It is also the first sweep over Ole Miss since 2014.
- Mizzou also improves to 13-5 over Ole Miss.
- Kim Wert and Cayla Kessinger each recorded four RBIs on the weekend, combining to bat in half of Mizzou’s runs.
- Kessinger improved her hitting streak to 14 games with a triple in the fourth inning, matching the longest streak of her career (April 23, 2017 – Feb. 10, 2018).
- With the triple, Kessinger now has two on the season, surpassing a career high of one that she set in 2017 and 2018.
- Brooke Wilmes continued her streak of reaching base safely in 19-straight games.
UP NEXT
The Tigers hit the road for four-straight away games, beginning with a non-conference matchup against Illinois on Wednesday, March 11. Mizzou will then turn around to face Auburn on the road, April 14-16.
For the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned at MUTigers.com or follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouSoftball) and Facebook (University of Missouri Softball Team).
