Wert Leads Tigers to Run-Rule Victory Over No. 9/12 Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kimberly Wert crushed a three-run home run in the first inning and a grand slam in the second leading University of Missouri softball (26-17, 6-9 SEC) to a 13-0 win in five innings over No. 9/12 Kentucky (30-12, 9-7 SEC).

RECAP

The Tiger bats were aggressive early in the series opener. Brooke Wilmes doubled down the right field line with one out in the top of the first, putting a runner in scoring position. Chaumont drew a hit by a pitch before Kimberly Wert crushed an 0-1 pitch off the left field foul pole, giving Mizzou a 3-0 lead.

In the second inning, Raabe reached on an error to lead off the inning before Laird was hit by a pitch and Wilmes singled into right, loading the bases. With two outs in the inning, Wert smacked a 1-0 offering over the left field wall for a grand slam, putting the lead at 7-0.

Kentucky put some pressure on Jordan Weber in the third inning with a pair of infield singles with one out in the home half. Weber enduced a pair of popups to retire the side.

The Tigers got back on the board in the fourth. Brooke Wilmes singled with one out and Casidy Chaumont reached on a fielder’s choice, but there was no out recorded at second due to an error. Kimberly Wert stepped back up to the plate and singled to center. The Tigers held the runners, but an errant throw home from the outfield led to Wilmes and Chaumont coming around to score.

Emma Raabe put her mark on the game in the fifth after a leadoff walk to Kara Daly. Raabe crushed the first pitch that she saw off the scoreboard in left center to put the score at 11-0 for the Tigers. Brooke Wilmes added an RBI single later in the inning to conclude her 4-for-4 day and Megan Moll lifted a sacrifice fly into center, putting the score at 13-0.

NOTES

Kimberly Wert went 3-for-3 with a pair of homers and seven RBI. Her career-best, seven RBI are tied for third in program history for a single game.

Wert has hit both of the Tigers’ grand slams on the season.

Brooke Wilmes went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Wilmes moves into second in Mizzou history with her 54th career double. She also takes sole possession of third with her 196th run.

Kara Daly was the third Tiger to reach in every plate appearance on the day, going 2-for-2 with a double and a walk.

Emma Raabe added her second homer of the season with a two-run shot to left center.

Jordan Weber kept the Wildcats off the board with a complete-game shutout. Weber struck out seven over five innings of work.

UP NEXT

The Tigers will face off with Kentucky in game two on Sunday night at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

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