CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Missouri softball team split its first two games of the South Florida Tournament on Friday, dropping the opener 5-4 in nine innings to Ohio State. The Tigers bounced back with a 9-1 win against Rutgers in five innings in the second game.
Missouri held a 4-3 lead heading into the seventh inning against Ohio State. After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first to the Buckeyes, the Tigers answered with two runs in the third on an RBI groundout by Natalie Fleming and an RBI single by Chloe Rathburn.
Missouri scored two more runs in the sixth with a two-run single by Braxton Burnside to take the lead, but Ohio State answered with a run in the top of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
Lilli Piper tripled in the ninth inning to give the Buckeyes the lead.
Anna Reed collected two of Missouri's six hits with a single and a double. Kirsten Mack also had a double.
Madi Norman (Tipton High School) took the loss for Missouri. She started the game, pitching one out before being relieved by Cheyenne Baxter. Norman returned to the pitcher's circle in the eighth inning and finished with four walks and one strikeout.
Missouri had a pair of home runs in the win against Rutgers. Burnside capped a five-run second inning with a two-run homer to left field, giving the Tigers a 5-0 lead.
Following an RBI single by Regan Nash in the third, Reed hit a three-run blast to extend Missouri's lead to 9-1.
Nash, Reed and Burnside each had two hits for the Tigers in game two. Reed also had a team-high four RBI and Nash drove in three runs. Jolie Duffner (Blair Oaks High School) also went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and Paige Bange (Helias High School) also had a pinch-hit double for Missouri.
Baxter earned the win for Missouri, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts in three innings of work. Danielle Baumgartner closed the game with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts.
Missouri (14-11) will play two more games today, facing North Dakota State at 11 a.m. and South Florida at 1:30 p.m.