Burnside and Romaine’s returns rejuvenate MU softball ahead of conference opener
BRANSON MO NEWS: Missouri (16-7) demonstrated the value of home-field advantage last weekend, going a perfect 6-0 in its Columbia debut under Gina Fogue against Creighton, Drake and Southeastern Louisiana in the Mizzou Tournament.Junior utility player Kolby Romaine and sophomore shortstop Braxton Burnside were integral to the team’s success, each returning from injuries Friday to give their squad an offensive spark.Romaine, who opened the season as the Tigers’ second baseman, suffered an undisclosed lower leg injury Feb. 16 at the Michelle Smith Pediatric Cancer Invitational just seven games into the season. At the time, she was enjoying a promising start to her junior campaign after a breakout sophomore season in which she posted a .325 batting average, third-best on the team.
Two days later, 2017 All-SEC selection Burnside went down.“She tried to freeze on a line drive, and the dirt was soft there on the field so she just kind of rolled her ankle,” Fogue said. “It wasn’t looking good at first, but we got a second opinion when we got home and we liked that opinion.”In one unlucky weekend, the Tigers lost their middle infield and a good portion of their run production.Both Burnside and Romaine, however, returned Friday, started in all six games of the Mizzou Tournament and showed signs of progress.Burnside hit .263 with four RBI and tallied her fourth multi-hit and third multi-RBI games of the season in the tournament finale against Drake.“I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent yet, but I was good enough to play,” Burnside said. “The main thing was getting out there and getting at-bats and getting balls in the dirt before we start SEC (play), so I think I accomplished everything I needed to this weekend.”Romaine notched her second three-hit game of the year against Southeastern Louisiana on …
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