Mizzou swept in Saturday doubleheader, loses series at Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. (KMIZ)
No. 13 Mizzou Softball had two opportunities to clinch a series win over No. 9 Georgia on Saturday afternoon, but the Bulldogs won both games of the doubleheader 4-2 to hand the Tigers a series loss. Larissa Anderson's crew is now 8-10 in SEC play and holds a 35-13 overall record with just six games left in the regular season.
In game one, Mizzou was unable to take the lead, falling behind 2-0 in the second inning after a two-RBI double from Emily Digby. Jefferson City alum Kara Daly cut the deficit in half with a sacrifice fly in the fourth frame, but the Bulldogs responded in the home half of the inning with a two-run home run, courtesy of Sydney Chambley, to extend their lead to 4-1. Rock Bridge alum Abby Hay got a run back for the Tigers with an RBI double, but Mizzou did not post another run in the contest.
Hay and Alex Honnold combined to post four of Mizzou's seven hits. Collectively, Georgia also recorded seven hits as a team.
Cierra Harrison was charged with the loss in the circle, giving up four runs on six hits over four innings of work. Lilly Whitten tossed two scoreless innings in relief and only allowed one hit.
In game two, Mizzou faced another early deficit, but Daly and Hay erased Georgia's lead and gave the Tigers a one-run advantage. The former Jefferson City Jay and Rock Bridge Bruin blasted solo home runs in the second and third innings respectively to put Mizzou ahead 2-1. However, Georgia responded by scoring three runs in the bottom half of the third frame to retake the lead. While the Tigers managed to load the bases with just one out in the final inning, the Bulldogs were able to escape the jam to capture the series win.
Honnold hit her 20th double of the season in this game, breaking the program's single season doubles record. She was one of three Tigers to post a multi-hit performance in this contest, including Hay and Daly.
As a team, Mizzou out-hit Georgia 8-3 in the game, but the Tigers made three errors on defense which led to a pair of unearned runs.
Marissa McCann was given the loss in the second game of the doubleheader, tossing just two innings and giving up two earned runs on three hits. Laurin Krings did not allow an earned run or a hit in relief of McCann and picked up four strikeouts.
Up next - Mizzou has one week to prepare for its final home series of the 2023-24 regular season. The Tigers will face Mississippi State in a three-game set, starting on Saturday, April 27 at 8 p.m. at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
