SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Missouri senior Nicole Hudson has found a rhythm early in the softball season.
Hudson hit two home runs and pitched the Tigers to a victory during action in the UC Santa Barbara Tournament on Saturday. The wins moved the Tigers to 4-0 on the season.
Missouri opened the day with an 11-3 victory against Fresno State.
The Tigers trailed 1-0 after the first but bounced back quickly with a home run in the second by Hudson to tie the score at 1. Missouri added four more in the third thanks to four base hits to take a 5-1 lead.
After Fresno State cut Missouri's lead to 5-3, the Tigers finished the game with five runs in the fourth on a two-run home run by Angela Randazzo, followed later in the inning by back-to-back homers from Mackenzie Sykes and Carlie Rose.
Hudson picked up the victory for the Tigers. She allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out two.
Missouri ouhit Fresno State 10-8. Sykes and Corrin Genovese had two hits each for Missouri.
The Tigers shutout San Diego 5-0 in the second game.
It was scoreless until the fourth when Hudson hit a solo home run to put Missouri up 1-0.
The Tigers made it 2-0 in the fifth on a home run by Kelsi Jones. After back-to-back bunt singles, the Tigers added a run on a throwing error, then two more runs on back-to-back hits by Emily Crane and Jenna Marston.
Erwin Bailey picked up the shutout for Missouri. She allowed two hits and struck out four.
Missouri finishes the tournament at 11 a.m. Sunday against UC Santa Barbara.
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