By Barbara Maningat

The Tigers pounced on the Cyclones for an early lead in the series opener, and four home runs pushed Missouri to a 9-0 win in Game 1 of the three-game series in Ames, Iowa.

Missouri put three on the board with one swing of the bat at the top of the first inning. Three back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Nicole Hudson who singled and drove in two runs. The Tigers drew two more walks by the end of the inning, which gave Mizzou a three-run lead before Iowa State’s first at-bat.

Back-to-back-to-back home runs in the second inning extended the lead, 7-0. This was the first time Missouri recorded such a string of homers since 2007. Jenna Marston drew the fifth walk of the game just before Ashley Fleming drove her in on the first Tiger homer. Kelsea Roth and Hudson each followed up with home runs of their own.

The Tigers ended the game in the fifth inning with a two-run home run by Rachel Hay.

Hudson led the Tiger offense as she went 2-for-2 with one run and three RBIs. Fleming, Marston and Hay went a combined 3-for-5 with five runs scored and four RBIs.

And Chelsea Thomas kept the Cyclones calm. She struck out 11 of her 12 recorded outs, allowing one walk and two hits in four innings. Bailey Erwin closed the game.

The Tigers now sit at 35-10 overall, 12-7 in Big 12 play. Game 2 will begin at 2 p.m., Saturday.

Information used from Mizzou Athletics