March 23, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 7 Missouri Tigers (17-2) roped five home runs en route to a pair of shutout run-rule victories, 8-0 and 16-0, Saturday against Georgia Tech (14-17) at University Field. Sunday’s series finale is cancelled due to the threat of inclement weather.
The 16-0 defeat in game two marked the largest margin of defeat in Georgia Tech history. The 16 RBI are the most allowed in a single game and the 16 runs tie the most runs allowed by Tech in a game. It also marked the fifth time in program history the Jackets gave up 16 runs.
Game 1 – Mizzou 8, Georgia Tech 0
The Tigers broke the game open in the second inning with six runs on two hits to take a 6-0 lead. With a 2-0 advantage, the bases loaded and one out, Angela Randazzo stepped to the plate and crushed a grand slam over the left-field wall to give Mizzou the 6-0 edge.
Georgia Tech starter Hope Rush did not allow a hit and limited the Tigers to just two base runners over the third and fourth innings.
Tech loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning, threatening to make a dent in the Tigers’ lead. Hope Rush, Morgan Taylor and Karly Fullem all singled, but Katie Johnsky’s deep fly ball to centerfield was caught at the wall to end the frame.
Kylie Kleinschmidt entered the game for Tech in the fifth inning to replace Rush in the circle. Mizzou’s Kelsea Roth drew a walk, Carlie Rose singled and Mackenzie Sykes hit her second double of the game that scored both runners to end the game, 8-0.
Rush (7-10) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs, two of them earned, on four hits in four innings pitched.
Mizzou’s Chelsea Thomas (9-1) earned the win and scattered five hits.
Game 2 – Mizzou 16, Georgia Tech 0
Mizzou batted around in both the first and second innings. In the first frame, the Tigers plated seven runs courtesy of three long balls off the bats of Nicole Hudson, Mackenzie Sykes and Corrin Genovese.
The Tigers tacked on six additional runs in the second stanza, four of which scored by a Rachel Hay pinch-hit grand slam, the second grand slam on the day for Mizzou. The Tigers added three runs on three hits in the third to take the final 16-0 advantage.
Hope Rush managed Tech’s lone hit in the game – a line drive to centerfield in the first inning.
Ashley Clifton (2-5) took the loss and pitched one inning with seven runs on four hits. Karly Fullem moved to the pitcher’s circle from first base to finish the game and threw the remaining three innings, allowing nine runs on seven hits.
Missouri’s Chelsea Thomas picked up her second victory of the day with one hit, one walk and five strikeouts in four innings of work.
The Jackets are back in action Wednesday with a single game at Kennesaw State. Action begins at 6 p.m.
