Mizzou’s Mya Dodge celebrates her third double of the day, which helped the Tigers to a win over George Mason on Thursday. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Photo)
| NCAA Softball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #13 Missouri (28-7) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 0 |
| George Mason (10-21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
WP: Lilly Whitten – MIZ (4-0) LP: K. Wilkerson – GMU (3-5)
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
FAIRFAX, VA — The No. 13 University of Missouri softball team continued its run through the east coast, with an 11-2 run-rule win over George Mason on Thursday.
The Tigers got three hits — all doubles — and five RBIs from junior Mya Dodge and put together two four-run innings to eventually put away the host Patriots.
Freshman Lilly Whitten made her second career start and tossed five strong innings, in which she allowed just one run on five hits with six strikeouts. Whitten is now 4-0 in the circle this season.
Mizzou jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage Thursday after Dodge doubled to score Katie Chester in the top of the second inning.
In the top of the third, the Tigers worked themselves into a bases loaded situation before Maddie Gallagher singled to center to bring home Lenger to extend the Mizzou lead to 2-0.
The Tigers kept the line moving as Katie Chester and Kara Daly each were hit by a pitch as the Mizzou lead grew to 4-0. Dodge later flew out to right field on a sacrifice to pick up her second RBI of the contest and move the score to 5-0.
Mizzou opened the fourth with four consecutive singles including bunt singles from Kayley Lenger and Jenna Laird.
George Mason clawed one run back in the fourth inning to move the score to 5-1, after Sydney Bales produced an RBI double.
Mizzou responded in the fifth as Julia Crenshaw sent one over the wall to extend the Tigers lead 6-1. The Tigers later loaded the bases following a double from Dodge and a pair of walks. Laird then brought home Dodge on a sacrifice fly to give Mizzou a 7-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Dodge cleared the bases with her third double of the contest to give the Tigers a 10-1 advantage. She then scored on an error by the Patriots.
Nathalie Touchet entered in the sixth inning, making her fourth appearance of the season. After giving up a run, Touchet worked out of a jam to close out the contest.
The Tigers are now 28-7 on the season and will conclude their east coast road trip, with a game in Philadelphia on Saturday against Villanova.
Mizzou will be back home next week to host a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 3 against Southeast Missouri State.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | MIZ | GMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | MIZ | 2nd | Dodge doubled to right center, RBI; Chester scored, unearned. | 1 | 0 |
| MIZ | 3rd | Gallagher singled to center field, RBI; Honnold advanced to second; Laird advanced to third; Lenger scored. | 2 | 0 |
| MIZ | 3rd | Chester hit by pitch, RBI; Gallagher advanced to second; Honnold advanced to third; Laird scored. | 3 | 0 |
| MIZ | 3rd | Daly hit by pitch, RBI; Chester advanced to second; Gallagher advanced to third; Honnold scored. | 4 | 0 |
| MIZ | 3rd | Dodge fouled out to rf, SAC, RBI; Daly advanced to second; Chester advanced to third; Gallagher scored. | 5 | 0 |
 | GMU | 4th | S. Bales doubled down the lf line, RBI; E. DeRosa scored. | 5 | 1 |
| MIZ | 5th | Crenshaw homered to left field, RBI. | 6 | 1 |
| MIZ | 5th | Laird flied out to cf, SAC, RBI; Dodge scored. | 7 | 1 |
| MIZ | 6th | Dodge doubled to left center, 3 RBI; Crenshaw scored; Hay scored; Gallagher scored. | 10 | 1 |
| MIZ | 6th | Phillips reached first on a throwing error by p, advanced to second; Abruscato advanced to third; Dodge scored, unearned. | 11 | 1 |
| GMU | 6th | K. Friend singled to right field, RBI; D. Sharpe advanced to third; S. Bales scored. | 11 | 2 |
MISSOURI TIGERS 2024 WOMEN’S SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2024 (Saturday) | 9 a.m. | Away | Villanova | Villanova, Pa. | |
| April 3, 2024 (Wednesday) | 4 p.m. | Home | Southeast Missouri | Mizzou Softball Stadium |  |
| April 3, 2024 (Wednesday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Southeast Missouri | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 5, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Away | 16 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. |  |
| April 6, 2024 (Saturday) | Noon | Away | 16 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
| April 7, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Away | 16 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
| April 10, 2024 (Wednesday) | 4 p.m. | Away | Drake | Des Moines, Iowa | |
| April 12, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Home | 17 Florida | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 13, 2024 (Saturday) | 12:30 p.m. | Home | 17 Florida | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 14, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Home | 17 Florida | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 17, 2024 (Wednesday) | 5 p.m. | Home | SIU-Edwardsville | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 19, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Away | 6 Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 20, 2024 (Saturday) | 1 p.m. | Away | 6 Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 21, 2024 (Sunday) | 1 p.m. | Away | 6 Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 27, 2024 (Saturday) | 8 p.m. | Home | Mississippi State | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 28, 2024 (Sunday) | 5 p.m. | Home | Mississippi State | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 29, 2024 (Monday) | 6 p.m. | Home | Mississippi State | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| May 3, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Away | 23 South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | |
| May 4, 2024 (Saturday) | 5 p.m. | Away | 23 South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | |
| May 5, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Away | 23 South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | |
| May 7, 2024 (Tuesday) | TBA | Neutral | SEC Tournament | Auburn, Ala. |