JOPLIN, MO- The Miners opened play in the TMZ Tournament in Joplin, Mo. today against the Wolves of Northern State University. S&T fell to NSU 8-0 in their first game of the day and battled with the Wolves through extra innings in game two to fall 10-8.
GAME ONE: MISSOURI S&T: 0, NORTHERN STATE: 8 (5 INNINGS)
The Miners struggled in game one of the day, picking up just one hit and four baserunners in the game.
NSU took an early lead in the game, scoring five runs off five hits in the bottom of the second inning.
After the Wolves added another run in the bottom of the 3
rd inning, S&T picked up their first hit of the game in the top of the 4
th inning.
Ashley Davis (Erie, IL/Erie) opened the Miners half of the inning with a single to shortstop.
Emily Davidson (St. Louis, MO/Oakville), who came in to pinch run for Davis, advanced to second on a throwing error and
Hannah Antzoulatos (Planfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) drew a walk to give Missouri S&T a runner in scoring position. But, the defense of Northern State kept the Miners at bay.
S&T would not be able to get past Meghan Anderson and the Wolves as Northern State went on to score two more runs in the bottom half of the 4
th inning to hand the Miners the 8-0 lead.
Kate Baxter (New Bloomfield, MO/New Bloomfield) (1-2) got the start today in game one, going 4.0 innings and allowing eight hits.
GAME TWO: NORTHERN STATE: 10, MISSOURI S&T: 8 (8 INNINGS)
It was a different story in game two of the day, going into extra innings to decide a winner.
NSU struck first in the game, getting back-to-back RBI hits in the top of the 2
nd inning to take a 2-0 lead.
The Miners hit right back in the bottom half of the inning;
Ashley Davis (Erie, IL/Erie) and
Hannah Antzoulatos (Planfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) opened up the inning with consecutive hits to get S&T baserunners.
Jacey Allen (Roanoke, TX/Byron Nelson) laid down a sac bunt to move the runners to second and third.
Keely Morgan (Laguna Hills, CA/Laguna Hills) reached base on an NSU error to load the bases for
Emily Davidson (St. Louis, MO/Oakville). She would draw a walk to force Davis home and make it a 2-1 game.
Kate Baxter (New Bloomfield, MO/New Bloomfield) would send in the Miners second run of the inning when she singled to shortstop and brought Antzoulatos home to tie the game at 2-2.
After Northern State added in three more runs in the top of the 3
rd, RBI hits from Antzoulatos and
Jacey Allen (Roanoke, TX/Byron Nelson) put S&T within one of the Wolves.
Both the Miners and Wolves continued with the back-and-forth scoring. It wasn't until the bottom of the 6
th inning when S&T tied the game, again.
With
Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley) and
Kate Baxter (New Bloomfield, MO/New Bloomfield) on second and third,
Olivia Young (Millstadt, IL/Belleville Township) sent a ball into left-center field to send both across home plate to make it an 8-7 game.
Ashley Davis (Erie, IL/Erie) would follow up with a single through the left side to bring Young around the bases and tie at game at 8-8.
Neither team would score in the 7
th inning and force extra play.
With Shayla Steinley placed on second base, NSU picked up a triple from Kennady Thompson to give the Wolves the 9-8 lead. Makenzie Merritt would follow suit with a single right field that scored Jessi Hernandez and extend the Miners deficit to 10-8.
In the bottom half of the inning, S&T would not be able to get any offense started and faced the 10-8 loss.
Missouri S&T (3-7) recorded 14 hits in game two with
Ashley Davis (Erie, IL/Erie) and
Hannah Antzoulatos (Planfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) leading the way with three hits each.
Charlye Rowland (Pearcy, Ark./Lake Hamilton) (0-1) got the start in the Miners evening game going 5.0 innings with three strikeouts.
Avery English (Carterville, IL/Carterville) saw her first time of the season today, getting in 3.0 innings of work and allowing just two hits.
