Missouri softball sweeps W. Illinois

COLUMBIA - The Missouri Tigers swept the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Tuesday at the Mizzou Softball Stadium. Missouri won the first game 10-2 and walked-off the second game 6-5.

In the first game, Chloe Rathburn hit a two-RBI double in the bottom of the first, followed by a Kolbe Romaine RBI single and Natalie Fleming two-run home run. Paige Bange (Helias High School) hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second, and Rylee Pierce hit a two-RBI double in the third.

Fleming and Gabby Garrison each went 2-for-2 in the game, while Bange went 1-for-3.

In the second game, Western Illinois jumped out to a 3-1 lead until Fleming tied it with a two-RBI double in the third. Western Illinois got the lead back and took a 5-4 advantage into the bottom of the seventh. Romaine singled in Rathburn and Braxton Burnside to give Missouri the walk-off win in the inning.

Cheyenne Baxter (11-4) won both games for the Tigers. Baxter allowed one run on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in the first game. In the second game she pitched two innings of relief and gave up a run on two hits with a strikeout. Madi Norman (Tipton High School) started the second game and went three innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Missouri (23-16, 4-7 Southeastern Conference) plays at 6 p.m. Friday at No. 5 Auburn.