Mizzou splits doubleheader on day two of NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic
CLEARWATER, Fla. (KMIZ)
While No. 15 Mizzou Softball fell short of a sweep of its Saturday doubleheader, the program did make a statement in Clearwater, Florida.
The Tigers (3-1) used a nine-run inning to earn a 10-3 win over No. 8 Duke (2-2), marking the team's second victory over a top-20 opponent in just four games. However, MU dropped its first game of the season 4-3 in heart-breaking fashion to Notre Dame (1-3) to close out its doubleheader.
With MU's win over Duke, head coach Larissa Anderson reached 350 career wins.
Mizzou trailed twice in its NCAA Super Regional rematch with Duke at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, but both times that the Blue Devils added runs to the scoreboard, the Tigers responded on their next visit to the plate. Stefania Abruscato delivered a game-tying solo home run in the fifth inning, and when Duke retook the lead in the next half inning, Coach Anderson's group answered with a nine-run, two-out rally in the sixth inning, ending with a two-run home run from Madison Walker.
Abruscato posted a 3-for-4 effort at the dish, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle during her two-RBI performance. Walker, Kara Daly and Julia Crenshaw also tallied two RBI's each in the contest.
Cierra Harrison recorded a five-inning outing, allowing three runs on nine hits. Taylor Pannell tossed two clean innings in relief of Harrison to help clinch the win.
However, MU's offense was mostly silent in the second game of its doubleheader. The Tigers ended its game against Notre Dame with just three hits while the Fighting Irish tallied 11 hits.
Coach Anderson's team entered the seventh inning with a one-run advantage, Notre Dame's Jane Kronenberger hit a walk-off, two-run home run off Pannell to clinch the first win of the season for the Fighting Irish.
Walker belted her second home run of the season in this contest, a game-tying solo home run in the fourth inning. Abruscato also delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning.
Marissa McCann got the starting nod in the circle but only pitched 2.1 innings, giving up four hits and one earned run with two strikeouts and two walks. Courtney Donahue tossed 2.2 innings out of the bullpen and also allowed one run on four hits.
Up next - The Tigers wrap up the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic on Sunday, Feb. 9 with a showdown against Iowa at 9 a.m.
