By Barbara Maningat
After some concern with Tiger hitting in recent conference games, Missouri has had no problem with its at-bats, taking two of the three game series against Iowa State. Kelsea Roth and Mackenzie Sykes added to the Tiger home run count on the weekend series against the Cyclones, helping them to another run-rule victory in Game 2. The Tigers shut out the Cyclones in six innings in large part to Roth’s grand slam in the first inning.
The Tigers gave Kristin Nottelmann plenty of run support before she even took the circle. Back-to-back singles by Sykes and Jenna Marston put runners on second and third, just before Ashley Fleming drew a walk to load the bases. That’s when Roth hit a grand slam to put four runs on the board.
Two hits in the second inning put Missouri up 7-0. Ashtin Stephens singled to left field just before Sykes hit a two-run homer at the top of the inning. In the next play, Martson’s double to left center was enough for Fleming to work with as Fleming singled through the right side to send Marston home.
The game-ending run didn’t come until the sixth inning. Briana Corwin singled to the shortstop and advanced to second on a wild pitch to Corrin Genovese. Genovese then singled and scored Corwin.
In her fifth shutout of the season, Nottelmann recorded one hit and one walk, striking out two in her six innings pitched. She improved to 12-3 on the season.
Sykes led the team as she went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs. Roth topped the Tigers with four RBIs on the game, while Martson and Corwin each recorded two runs.
The Tigers now sit at 13-7 in Big 12 play and are 9-5 in away games. They complete the series in Ames, Iowa, on Sunday at noon.
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