Senior Jenna Marston (St. Louis, Mo.) hit a three-run home run to lead the sixth-seeded Mizzou softball team over Stony Brook, 3-0, Friday in the second game of the Columbia Regional. Marston’s bomb was her first since early in the 2011 season. SeniorNicole Hudson (Webb City, Mo.) pitched her second complete game shutout of the year to earn the win in the circle. She improved to 11-5 on the season after allowing just two hits to the Seawolves.
The Tigers (36-11) continue in the 2013 NCAA Division I Softball Championship with Hofstra (44-11) on Saturday, May 18, at Noon CDT, while the Seawolves (35-24) take on Oregon State (33-23) at 2:30 p.m. CDT.
Stony Brook threatened first in the top of the second inning when the Seawolves put runners on the corners with two outs. The Tigers thwarted the opportunity when SBU catcher Nicole Schieferstein grounded out to Hudson to end the inning.
With one out in the bottom of the third, freshman 2B Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) singled to right field and Marston notched a walk to put runners on first and second base. Mizzou was unable to capitalize with consecutive popouts from Hudson and sophomore 3B Angela Randazzo (Poway, Calif.).
Mizzou finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth with walks and Marston’s timely hitting. Senior catcher Rachel Hay (Kansas City, Mo.) led off the inning with a walk. Redshirt freshman Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) pinch ran for Hay and promptly stole second. Crane walked with one out, setting the stage for Marston’s three-run home run.
Hudson worked around singles in the sixth and the seventh to clinch the win for the Tigers.
