COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 12/13 Mizzou softball team used a five-run fifth inning to carry the team to a 7-0 win over Indiana State Friday in the second game of the NCAA Softball Columbia Regional. The Tigers (40-14) advanced to the winner’s bracket and will face Kansas on Saturday, May 16 at 10 a.m. CT. The Sycamores (26-30) will take on Louisville in the loser’s bracket at 12:30 p.m.
RF Emily Crane recorded three of Mizzou’s 10 hits in the contest, upping her career NCAA Tournament average to .471 (16-34) in 11 Tournament games. CF Taylor Gadbois and 1B Kelsea Roth also added multi-hit performances with two singles apiece.
In the circle, P Tori Finucane allowed just two hits, struck out four batters and walked just one over 5.0 innings to earn her 20th win of the 2015 campaign. Over her last 11.0 innings, she has allowed only three hits and no runs in outings against Mississippi State and Indiana State.
The Tigers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Hits from CF Taylor Gadbois and RF Emily Crane and a walk from 2B Sami Fagan loaded the bases with no outs. DP Amanda Sanchez hit into a double play but drove Gadbois home to earn the RBI.
A five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run pinch hit home run from Jordan Zolman, opened a 6-0 Missouri advantage. Crane led off the inning with her third hit of the game and eventually advanced to third after a fielder’s choice from Sanchez and a walk from C Kirsten Mack. SS Corrin Genovese gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead when she drove in Crane and reached on a fielder’s choice. A single from 1B Kelsea Roth, her second hit of the contest, plated Sanchez for a 3-0 score. Zolman then broke the game open with her second career homer, driving in Genovese and Roth for the 6-0 Missouri lead.
Mizzou added its final run of the game in the sixth when Sanchez recorded her second RBI of the game with a single up the middle to score Gadbois from third.
The Tigers’ Cheyenne Baxter relieved Finucane in the circle in the sixth, not allowing a hit in two innings of relief.
— MU Sports Information —