Missouri softball sweeps

COLUMBIA - The Missouri softball team completed its sweep of South Carolina with a pair of five-inning, run-rule wins Saturday, winning by scores of 12-3 and 8-0.

The offensive fireworks were provided by Angela Randazzo, who went 4-for-6 with three home runs, one double and nine RBI.

Chelsea Thomas started and won both games to improve to 12-1 on the season, throwing 31⁄3 innings in the first matchup and all five in the nightcap.

The Tigers improved to 20-2 overall and 7-1 in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks dropped to 18-14 and 1-8 SEC.

In the first game, the Tigers jumped on the Gamecocks in the second and third innings, scoring three runs and five runs, respectively.

Providing all the runs in the second inning was Corrin Genovese, who hit her second home run of the season, a three-run shot. The big blow in the third was a three-run homer by Randazzo.

Randazzo then added a two-run shot in the four-run fourth, while Rachel Hay had a two-run double.

Randazzo ended up going 2-for-3 with five RBI.

Thomas left after allowing just one hit in the first three innings, recording four strikeouts. But after Lindsey Muller couldn't get out of the fourth, allowing three runs on one hit and one walk, Thomas came back to get the final out.

Nicole Hudson then pitched the fifth, giving up one hit.

The Tigers effectively ended the second game with a six-run first inning. Included in that was a two-run home run by Randazzo, who went 2-for-3 with four RBI in the contest.

Emily Crane, Sarah Moore and Genovese had one hit and one RBI each.

Thomas twirled a four-hitter to get the win, striking out eight.

The Tigers return to action Wednesday at Missouri State with a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.