16th ranked Mizzou softball, backed by a standout performance in the circle from freshman pitcher Tori Finucane, beat 14th ranked Arizona 2-0 on Thursday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The Tigers handed the Wildcats (10-1) their first loss as Finucane recorded a season-best eight strikeouts in her fourth collegiate start.
Senior OF Mackenzie Sykes of Blue Springs provided Mizzou’s opening run in the top of the first inning with a double to deep left center, scoring shorstop Sami Fagan who led off the game with a single over third base.In the seventh, Mizzou added insurance when second baseman Emily Crane singled up the middle to score Taylor Gadbois from second base. Gadbois got into scoring position after stealing her third base of the game.
Finucane allowed just five hits and no walks in the win (3-1). The complete game shutout was her second of the 2014 season after pitching 5.0 innings of shutout softball vs. Lipscomb (Feb. 15), an 8-0 run rule victory.
In the second game of the evening, Mizzou jumped out to a 1-0 lead on 15th ranked Baylor, but allowed three runs to the Bears in the fourth inning, Mizzou answered back with a run in the top of the fifth, but would come up short losing 3-2. Freshman Casey Stangel tossed 6.0 innings for Mizzou, allowing nine hits and just two earned runs in the loss. BU’s Heather Stearns earned the win with 5.0 innings pitched, and Whitney Canion earned a save with 2.0 innings of relief work.
Mizzou continues the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with Fordham (5:30 p.m. CT) and San Diego State (10:30 p.m. CT) on Friday, Feb. 21.
