No. 17 Softball Takes Two to Open The Spring Games

LEESBURG, Fla. – University of Missouri softball (6-2) opened play at The Spring Games on Friday with a pair of wins over South Alabama and North Carolina. The Tigers picked up a walkoff 3-2 win over the Jaguars before downing the Tar Heels by a score of 5-2.

GAME ONE

Mizzou got off to a quick start against South Alabama. In the bottom of the first, Brooke Wilmes led off with a triple to deep right field before Jenna Laird singled to left to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. The Tigers were unable to capitalize off some early traffic on the basepaths, leaving two runners on base in the first and second innings.

Kimberly Wert homered for the second time in as many games, driving one deep to left for her second of the season. The Jaguars were quickly able to answer, however, launching a two-run shot to left field with nobody out in the fourth.

Megan Schumacher entered after the South Alabama home run and she was able to keep the Jaguars off the board. She ran into trouble in the fifth, with runners at the corners and only one out. Ultimately, Schumacher struck out a batter with the bases loaded to close out the threat.

Mizzou against left two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Schumacher sent the Jaguars down in order, the Tigers had a chance to walk it off. Jenna Laird got the inning started with an infield single before Hatti Moore bunted her over to second. With two outs, Laird was still sitting on second. Kendyll Bailey laced a 1-0 offering into left field and Laird came all the way around to end it.  

GAME TWO

In the second game of the day, after a few quiet innings, the Tigers’ bats woke up. To lead off the top of the third inning, Kara Daly launched her first career home run to left center field to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. The solo shot is the first of Daly’s career.

In the fourth inning, Kimberly Wert did it again. This time, launching a two-run home run down the left field line to extend the lead to three runs. Alex Honnold followed up the home run with a triple to deep right field, but she was stranded there.

North Carolina was finally able to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Tar Heels were able to load the bases with two outs after a pair of singles and a walk. Jones then crushed a double to deep left center, scoring two runs, before a relay throw from Brooke Wilmes to Jenna Laird to Gabi Deters caught a third runner attempting to score.

Mizzou extended the lead in the sixth inning, adding a couple more runs. After Wert walked, Maddie Snider entered as a pinch runner. She quickly made her way around the bases on a pair of wild pitches before Gabi Deters reached on a walk. The two baserunners took off on a double steal and both were successful to double the Mizzou lead to 4-2. Kara Daly single through the left side to score Deters putting it at 5-2.

Emma Nichols entered with a runner on base with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth inning. After hitting the first batter that she saw, she retired the next five to secure the save.

NOTES

Kara Daly launched the first home run of her career against North Carolina. After starting the season 0-for-6 at the plate, Daly has hit safely in four of her last seven at bats.

Kimberly Wert has homered in each of the last three games, including one in each game of the doubleheader. She leads the Tigers with three home runs on the season.

Maddie Snider has stolen a base in each of her pinch running opportunities over the last three games. 

Emma Nichols picked up her first save of the season against North Carolina after tying for the national lead in 2021. 

Brooke Wilmes tripled for the first time since the 2019 season. 

UP NEXT

The Tigers will take on Bethune Cookman and Florida Atlantic on Saturday to continue The Spring Games at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. CT. 

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