Columbia, Mo. - Mizzou Softball relied on timely hitting and strong pitching on its way to a 3-2 win over Mississippi State in the first game of the series on Friday, April 10. Following the win, the Tigers move to 25-9 on the year, with a 7-6 mark in conference play. Despite being held to fewer than three runs for just the sixth time all season, Mizzou came through with the victory due to dominant pitching performances from sophomore Tori Finucane (Germantown, M.D.) and freshman Paige Lowary (Dallas Center, Iowa).
Finucane took the bump for the Tigers initially, looking to improve upon her team-leading 12 wins on the season. Fresh off a one-run allowed outing against Georgia last weekend, Finucane kept that success rolling against Mississippi State. Finucane recorded four scoreless frames, scattering three hits and striking out three batters.
The Tigers struck first, getting on the board in the bottom of the second inning. After a double from senior IF Corrin Genovese (East Amherst, N.Y.) and a single from senior 1B Kelsea Roth (Yorba Linda, Calif.), sophomore catcher Kirsten Mack (Riverside, Calif.) took to the plate with runners on the corners. Mack laid down a near-perfect bunt that squeaked in between the Bulldogs' pitcher and the first-baseman to drive in the game's first run. Heading into the game, Mizzou was a remarkable 15-1 when scoring first.
With little room for error, head coach Ehren Earleywine called to the bullpen as Finucane's pitch count increased. The ninth-year leader of the Tigers brought in Lowary to go the distance. Lowary was aided in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Tigers added two runs of insurance that proved to be the difference in the game.
With a runner on second, sophomore IF/OF Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.) dropped a bunt down the third base line. Freshman OF Morgan Walters (Buford, Ga.) scored from second on an errant throw from the Mississippi State third baseman. Three batters later, Mizzou tacked on another run when the Bulldogs' second baseman failed to field a grounder from freshman 3B Amanda Sanchez (West Covina, Calif.).
Facing a 3-0 deficit, Mississippi State battled back in the top of the seventh inning. After the first two MSU batters reached base, the visitors scored on a throwing error by Mizzou, followed by a single tapped down the left field line. With the tying run just 60-feet away, Lowary was two outs away from recording just her second career save. Lowary used just three pitches to generate a swinging strikeout for the second out of the inning. In Mississippi State's final at bat of the game, Lowary induced a shallow flare that found its way into the glove of Genovese to seal the game.
Mizzou is back in action tomorrow on Saturday, April 11. Mizzou and Mississippi State will meet in game two with first pitch set for 1 p.m., on SEC Network +. For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouSoftball.