No. 24/21 Softball Run Rules Cal Poly and BYU in Opening Day of Mary Nutter Cathedral City Collegiate Classic Thursday

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The No. 24/21 University of Missouri Softball program (11-2) picked up a pair of run-rule victories over Cal Poly (5-3) and Brigham Young (7-4) to open the 2023 Mary Nutter Cathedral City Collegiate Classic Thursday at Big League Dreams Yankee Stadium. The Tigers bested Cal Poly, 9-1, before downing BYU, 11-3.

With the two wins, Missouri extended its win streak to eight games and now has surpassed double-digit wins in 2023. 

The Tigers registered five home runs on the day. Kara Daly belted a grand slam in game one against Cal Poly while Julia Crenshaw hit a pair against BYU including back-to-back jacks with Alex Honnold. 

No. 24/21 Missouri 9, Cal Poly 1

After trailing in the opening inning, Mizzou rallied for nine runs in the final three frames to run rule Cal Poly Thursday. 

The Tigers scored five runs in the third before adding one in the fourth and a trio in the fifth.

The Mustangs took an early 1-0 lead in the first, commencing the game with consecutive walks before a RBI double from Julia Barnett.

Missouri responded in the third, tying the game at 1-1 on a RBI double from Jenna Laird. Megan Moll led off with a walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt ahead of Laird’s double. 

Alex Honnold earned a walk before Julia Crenshaw was hit by a pitch to load the bases. 

Kara Daly then cleared the basepaths with a grand slam to deep center field to push the advantage to 5-1. The grand slam was the first in her career at Mizzou while the homer was her second of the 2023 campaign (15th career). 

In the fourth, Laird came aboard on a fielder’s choice which scored pinch runner Kayley Lenger as the Mustangs third baseman was called for obstruction. 

Pinch runner Hannah McGivern then scored on a Cal Poly miscue during a double steal play in the fifth. McGivern swiped second before advancing to third on a groundout. She then touched home on a throwing error. 

Lenger extended the lead to 8-1 on a wild pitch after being plunked by a pitch.

Moll then capped the scoring, coming home as Laird reached on an error. 

Megan Schumacher registered her first win of the 2023 season, pitching 2.1 innings of no-hit relief with a strikeout.

Starter Cierra Harrison allowed a run on a hit in 2.2 innings in the circle. She had two strikeouts with four walks. 

NOTES

• Jenna Laird led the Tigers, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run. 
• Alex Honnold, Kara Daly, and Katie Chester each added a hit.
• Kara Daly registered a career-best four RBI with her first career grand slam. The Tigers last recorded a grand slam on April 25, 2022, when Kimberly Wert notched one against Kentucky. 
• Kayley Lenger stole her first career base at Missouri in the game. 
• Megan Schumacher picked up her first win of the season, coming on in relief. The win was her 21st career win at Missouri. 

No. 24/21 Missouri 11, BYU 3

The Tigers completed their sweep of the opening day of the Mary Nutter Cathedral City Collegiate Classic, dropping BYU, 11-3. Missouri compiled eight runs in the fourth to secure the run-rule win. 

Missouri jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after back-to-back jacks from Alex Honnold and Julia Crenshaw in the first. 

It marked the second time in 2023 that a pair of Tigers notched consecutive round trippers as Katie Chester and Kara Daly produced the feat against Butler this past weekend (Feb. 17). 

The Cougars would then cut the edge in half after a Hailey Morrow sacrifice fly before taking a 3-2 lead on a pair of Tiger miscues.

Crenshaw then knocked a two-out RBI single to center in the third to reknot the game at 3-3.

The Tigers then distanced themselves from BYU with an eight-run fourth. Kara Daly led off with a single to right before Riley Frizell blasted a two-run shot to center. 

Maddie Snider added a RBI infield single before a two-run double from Alex Honnold increased the lead to 8-3. 

Crenshaw then recorded her second home run of the game, a three-run shot to left to put the scoreboard at 11-3 Tigers. 

Jordan Weber improved to 3-2 in 2023, allowing just one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks over four innings. 

Taylor Pannell closed the game, registering the final three outs. 

NOTES

• Alex Honnold (matches season high) and Julia Crenshaw (matches career high) each were 3-for-3. Crenshaw had a career best five RBI with two runs while Honnold added three RBI and three runs. 
• Julia Crenshaw has now hit five homers in 2023 (six in career). Thursday was her first career multi-home run game. 
• Julia Crenshaw is the first Missouri player to hit a pair of home runs in a game since Kimberly Wert against Kentucky on April 23, 2022.
• Right fielder Maddie Gallagher posted a Mizzou career high two hits (2-for-2) with a run and a walk. 
• Kara Daly, Riley Frizell, Maddie Snider, and Kelsee Mortimer each had a hit. 
• Maddie Snider was 1-for-2 with a run and a RBI. 
• Riley Frizell connected on her second home run of the season which matches her total from 2022. She is one away from tying a career best (three in 2021). 
• Eight Tigers scored against BYU.
• Jordan Weber improved to 35-18 in her career at Missouri with the win.