MU softball finishes sweep of Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Missouri softball team completed a three-game sweep of Arkansas on Sunday, with none of the games in the set lasting all seven innings.

Sunday's win was also a milestone, as it marked the 400th victory at Missouri for head coach Ehren Earleywine.

The Tigers started the procession of run-rule wins by beating the Razorbacks 9-0 in five innings Friday.

Two innings encompassed all of the scoring for the Tigers, as Missouri used a six-run top of the first to jump into a big lead, then the team closed it out with a three-run fifth.

Sami Fagan had a single, home run and three RBI to pace the offense for Missouri. Emily Crane added two hits and one RBI, while Taylor Gadbois had one hit and two RBI.

Also for the Tigers, Corrin Genovese had a double and one RBI and Kelsea Roth had one hit and one RBI.

Tori Finucane threw a complete-game three-hitter to get the win. She did not walk a batter and struck out eight.

On Saturday, Missouri bounced Arkansas 11-1 in five innings.

The Tigers scored two in the first, seven in the second and two in the fifth to end it early. The Razorbacks got their lone run in the third.

The Tigers rapped out 14 hits, with the biggest night coming from Fagan, who smacked two home runs, a triple and drove in four runs.

Crane contributed a single, triple and two RBI, while Sydney Sprague, Genovese and Anna Reed had one hit and two RBI each.

Kirsten Mack chipped in with two hits, Amanda Sanchez had a double, Roth drove in one run and Paige Bange (Helias High School) had one hit.

Paige Lowary (13-3) pitched the first three innings to get the win, as she gave up one earned run on two hits and struck out five. Cheyenne Baxter worked the final two innings and did not allow a hit while walking two and striking out four.

Missouri wrapped things up Sunday with a 10-0 win in six innings.

The Tigers once again scored in the first inning, this time just once, but added two more in the third for a 3-0 lead. They got another run in the fifth and then six in the sixth to end it early.

Gadbois had a huge game, going 4-for-5 in the leadoff spot, while Morgan Walters had a three-run homer and Kirsten Mack had a double and three RBI.

Angela Randazzo had a two-run home run and also drove in another run with a fielder's choice, while Fagan had a double and one RBI and Sanchez had a double.

Finucane (17-6) pitched the first four innings to pick up the victory. She scattered five hits and walked one while striking out four. Lowary finished up and allowed two hits with three strikeouts.

Missouri improved to 31-10 overall and 11-7 in the Southeastern Conference, while Arkansas dropped to 15-30 and 1-17 in league play.

The Tigers return to action Wednesday when they host Iowa at 3 p.m.