BENTONVILLE, ARK. – Senior
Alex Stupek drove in six runs on two home runs and scored four runs on Friday as the No. 24 ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team picked up two wins as it opened play at the Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic.
The Tritons defeated Northeastern State (Okla.), 5-2, before recording an 11-2 five-inning win over East Central.
UMSL improves its ledger to 8-4.
GAME 1: UMSL 5, Northeastern State 2
How it Happened
-Senior
Alex Stupek delivered a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 advantage.
-Senior
Erin Walker added an insurance run in the sixth with a pinch hit RBI single. UMSL sent all nine batters to the plate in that frame, recording six hits.
-Junior
Jennah Perryman put the Tritons on the board in the second inning with a solo shot, while Northeastern State (3-4) plated two runs in the top of the sixth for a 2-1 lead.
KEY STATS
-Freshman
Annie Kroeger was 2-for-3 at the plate as UMSL out-hit the River Hawks, 8-5.
-Sophomore
Serena Olson reached base twice, recording a hit and drawing a walk.
-Sophomore
Carly Kingery improved to 5-2 in the circle with the complete-game. She allowed both runs on five hits and struck out five, while issuing just one walk.
GAME 2: UMSL 11, East Central 2 (5 inn.)
How it Happened
-The Tritons led 10-1 after two innings, scoring four times in the bottom of the first before crossing the plate six times in the second.
-Stupek tallied her second three-run homer of the day in the second inning, which came after an RBI double from senior
Sara Kern knotted the score at 1-1.
-In the second inning, an error accounted for the first run, while the next three came on RBI walks. Sophomore
Reagan Osborn and junior
Rachel Matthies each added an RBI single.
-Junior
Kaitlin Fraser picked up a pinch hit RBI walk in the third inning.
-East Central (6-2) scored in the first and fifth innings.
KEY STATS
-UMSL recorded seven hits and drew nine walks. Osborn finished with two hits.
-Kroeger was the benefactor of two walks, while also tallying a hit.
-Stupek scored three runs.
-Freshman
Andee Tiffee picked up the win in the circle, allowing one run on four hits in four innings, while striking out four.
UP NEXT
UMSL faces Missouri Southern (1 p.m.) and Central Missouri (5 p.m.) tomorrow.
