Schumacher Dominant in Relief as No. 24/25 Tigers Take Series

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 24/25 University of Missouri softball (21-13, 2-5 SEC) took game two of the series from South Carolina (18-16, 2-9 SEC) by a score of 7-3.

Mizzou trailed 3-1 early in the contest, but 4.2 scoreless innings from Megan Schumacher allowed the Tigers to score six unanswered runs.

Kimberly Wert put the Tigers ahead in the first for the second-straight game. She singled into left to plate Jenna Laird after she walked and stole a base.

In the top of the third, the first two Gamecock batters reached with a single and a walk. With runners on the corners and one out, Fabian singled into center to tie the game at one. Kumiyama doubled down the left field line to give South Carolina the lead. An RBI groundout to second made it 3-1 before Schumacher retired the side.

Kendyll Bailey cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third with a single into right center, scoring Casidy Chaumont. Mizzou tied it up in the fourth after a pair of walks put two on with two outs. Chaumont grounded a ball sharply up the middle, that was misplayed by the shortstop and Kara Daly rounded third and scored on a play at the plate. Replay upheld the ruling on the field.

Mizzou broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kara Daly led off with a single to left. Maddie Snider entered as a pinch runner and she was able to steal second to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Emma Raabe walked to put two on and Casidy Chaumont lined a single into right to load the bases. With the infield in, Jenna Laird grounded a single through the right side to make it 5-3 for the Tigers. After Laird stole second, Brooke Wilmes lifted a sacrifice fly into right to score Chaumont and Kendyll Bailey reached on an infield single to bring home Laird. The Tigers took a 7-3 lead into the seventh.

NOTES

Kendyll Bailey went 2-for-4 on the day with two RBI. She has nine multi-hit games on the year which is tied for second on the team.

Bailey has set a new career high with 22 RBI on the year.

Kimberly Wert drove in her team-leading 28th run of the season with her RBI single in the first.

Jenna Laird went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs and two stolen bases. She stole two bases in a game for the third time in her career. Her second of the day marked the 30th of her career.

Megan Schumacher’s 4.2 innings marked her longest outing of the season. Out of the bullpen, she allowed only two hits and two walks while keeping the Gamecocks scoreless.

Schumacher picked up her fourth win of the year, all of which are out of the bullpen.

The Tigers pick up their first SEC series win of the year after starting 0-5 in conference play.

Missouri defeated South Carolina by an identical 7-3 score exactly one year prior on April 2, 2021. Schumacher was the winning pitcher in each contest.

Mizzou moves to 15-9 all-time against the Gamecocks.

UP NEXT

The series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT as the Tigers go for the sweep at Mizzou Softball Stadium. The game will air on SEC Network with Jenny Dalton-Hill and Pam Ward on the call.

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