Mizzou Softball got off to another hot start, shutting out both Troy and Villanova, 6-0 in six innings and 7-0, respectively.

Senior P Madi Norman started in the circle for the Tigers in game one and had another great outing, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finishing with her second complete game shutout this season. 

Freshman DP Geana Torres went 2-4 against Troy with back-to-back home runs and three RBI. Sophomore P Cassie Gasper picked up her second win of the season in the circle, going the distance in game two against Villanova. Sophomore CF Callie Martin went 2-2 at the plate against Villanova with two RBI.

Kansas softball (1-5) netted its first win of the season, splitting its two games on day one of the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom Invitational.

The victory marked many firsts for the 2019 squad. It marked head coach Jennifer McFalls first victory and the first win of 2019, while also registering as Kirsten Pruett's first career win and Miranda Rodriguez's first hit of the season.

Kansas 4, UMASS 2

Kansas opened their first game of competition against a foe that had yet to play in 2019.

UMASS (0-1) opened their season at the Diamond 9 Citrus Blossom and opened the scoring in the fourth inning off starting Kansas pitcher Brynn Minor. Minor pitched a scoreless three innings to start the game and the Jayhawks were also not able to plate a run in the same frames.

In the fourth, UMASS netted one run, but again both teams were held scoreless in the fifth, which proved to be the last full inning for Minor in the circle. After another run crossed the plate for the Minutewoman, Kansas broke its scoring streak. 

Shelby Gayre opened the inning with a single up the middle and scored on a double by Rodriguez, her first hit of the season. Shelby Hughston added a double in the next at-bat and plated two more runs, giving the Jayhawks the lead.

Hughston netted an insurance run after Madison Sykes slapped a single up the middle, earning the 4-2 result.

Kirsten Pruett came in relief for Minor, pitching the final two innings and securing her first career win.

Kansas 1, Iowa 2

After earning its first victory of the season, Kansas softball looked to recap a perfect-Florida day with another victory over Iowa. Iowa (2-4) entered the contest with a loss earlier in the day to Villanova.

The Hawkeyes jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, securing a run on Kansas starting pitcher Pruett.

Pruett and the Kansas defense settled down after the opening run and held Iowa scoreless for the next four innings. The Jayhawks were also held scoreless until the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Hawkeyes tacked on another run and pushed their lead to 2-0. Pruett finished her successful day in the circle and gave way to Lexy Mills, who pitched the final out of the sixth inning.

With their backs against the wall, Kansas found success on back-to-back singles by Hughston and Sam Dellinger, but Hughston was called out at second on the short pop up to center field by Dellinger. The tricky play stranded her between first and second.

Down to their last out, Brynn Minor laced a single to right field, plating the Jayhawks lone run of the day.

Kansas finished its day on a ground out to the shortstop.

Mizzou Softball stayed hot on day two of the Citrus Blossom Classic, beating UMass in game one 5-0 courtesy of a complete game shutout from junior P Nalani Scates, followed by a 9-1 win over Iowa, a game in which senior P Madi Norman struck out a career-high 10 batters. Senior 1B Kolby Romaine was excellent for the Tigers in both games, going a combined 4-7 with two home runs and five RBI. Her three home runs are tied for the most on the team.

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Troy defeated Saint Joseph's University in extra innings, 7-4, Sunday morning in the final game of the Diamond 9 Classic in Orlando, Florida. Troy (7-3) ended the tournament 4-1 with its only loss coming to Missouri.

Bailey Taylor spearheaded the offensive effort for Troy going 3-for-5 with six RBIs and a homerun.  Leanna Johnson (4-1) faced 29 of the 32 batters that stepped into the box and recorded six strikeouts.

In the bottom of the eighth, Talia Truitt doubled down the third base line. Porter advanced Truitt to third with a single to left. Katie Webb was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Taylor doubled to left center to clear the bases and give Troy a three-run advantage.

In the early innings of the game, Troy struck first in the top of third with Logan Calhoun leading off the inning with a single to left center. Madeline Porter drew a one out walk to put to put runners on first and second for Bailey Taylor. Taylor blasted her second home run of the season to put Troy on the board.

Troy added another run in the top of fifth. A double by Taylor and a singly by Brooke Echols put runners on the corners. Katie Lively singled to right center scoring Corbett, who came into pinch run for Taylor.

In the bottom of the sixth, Saint Joseph's (4-1) scored two off a sacrifice fly by Sarah Ostaszewski and a double by Molly Kapala.

Troy went scoreless in the top of the seventh. The Hawks came up with two more runs off of a wild pitch by Kynsley Rae Blasingame, who came in for three batters in the seventh, and a double by Carly Rybinski. The two runs in the bottom of the seventh sent the game into the eighth.
Saint Joseph's was unable to answer in the bottom of the eighth after Troy's big offensive inning gave Troy its seventh win of the season.

Troy's win over Saint Joseph's gives the Hawks its first loss of the season.