Missouri softball goes 5-0

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Missouri Tigers went a perfect 5-0 during their appearance at the Citrus Classic over the weekend.

Casey Stangel led the way for the Tigers, as the freshman went 4-0 in the circle in two starts and five total appearances.

The Tigers started the event Friday with a 1-0 win against Bradley.

Sami Fagan, who had two of the six hits for the Tigers, doubled and scored on a single by Angela Randazzo for the game's only run in the sixth inning.

Stangel threw a four-hitter to get the win, striking out three while not allowing a walk.

Randazzo also got the game-winner in the second game of the day, as her two-out, three-run triple in the eighth inning sent Missouri to a 9-7 win against Syracuse.

Emily Crane went 3-for-5, including a home run, and drove in three runs for the Tigers, while Mackenzie Sykes also had a home run and drove in three runs for Missouri. Kelsea Roth drove in one run, while Taylor Gadbois added a pair of hits.

Stangel got the win, pitching 3 2/3 innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit while walking two and striking out five. Tori Finucane started and allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. She struck out two and walked five.

On Saturday, the Tigers started out with a wild 11-10 win against Illinois State, scoring six runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to win it. A two-run single by Crane, her second single of the inning, scored the game-winning runs.

Crane ended up 4-for-5 with three RBI in the game, including a double. Stangel had a home run and three RBI, while Gadbois rapped out four hits. Randazzo had two hits and one RBI, Roth had one hit and two RBI, Fagan and Sykes had one hit and one RBI apiece, and Kirsten Mack had two hits.

Alora Marble (Blair Oaks High School) started and gave up seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks. She struck out one in three innings of work. Stangel got the win again in relief, allowing three earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in four innings.

Later on Saturday, Missouri had an easier time with Radford, posting a 7-1 victory.

Crane had another homer as part of a 3-for-4 days with four RBI, while Gadbois was 2-for-2 with two RBI. Roth added two hits and one RBI.

Stangel worked the first 4 2/3 innings to get the win, giving up one earned run on six hits and three walks. She struck out five. Marble then pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, not allowing a run on four hits while striking out four.

In the final game of the event, the Tigers blanked Ohio State 7-0.

Sykes went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI, while Fagan had two hits and two RBI. Ashtin Stephens went 3-for-3, while Corrin Genovese had a hit and an RBI.

Finucane got the win, scattering five hits during seven innings of work. She walked one and struck out two.

The Tigers, ranked 17th in the nation, are now 12-3 on the season and will return to action Friday through Sunday at Texas A&M, kicking off the Southeastern Conference portion of their schedule.