(Photo Credit: Clayton Hotze)
It was all Nebraska all day at University field on Sunday. The Missouri Tigers faced off against the Huskers in the regional championship game with the winner heading to the super regional next weekend. Nebraska won the first game handedly 11-4 forcing a second game, which they also won 9-1.
In the first game the Huskers struck first after Hailey Decker blasted a two-run shot over the wall scoring Alicia Armstrong to give Nebraska a quick 2-0 lead. Missouri cut into the lead just an inning later after Corrin Genovese got aboard with a leadoff single. Genovese then stole second and advanced to third on an error by Nebraska before tagging up off a Mackenzie Sykes sac-fly to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Tigers struck again in the third when Taylor Gadbois reached base with a one- out single. After an error allowed Emily Crane to reach, Angela Randazzo stroked a RBI double scoring Gadbois and Crane, which gave Missouri a 3-2 advantage.
Though the lead wouldn’t last long as Nebraska’s Decker struck again smashing her second two-run dinger of the game giving the lead back to the Huskers at 4-3. Things only got uglier from there for the Tigers as senior pitcher Alora Marble surrendered seven more runs highlighted by a three-run bomb off the bat of Austen Urness pushing the Huskers lead to 11-3.
Missouri was able to get a run back off a Randazzo RBI double to score Crane, but the Tigers fell short losing the first game 11-4.
In a winner take all game two Nebraska once again outmatched Missouri offensively plating nine total runs in the game en route to a 9-1 victory. Decker sparked the offense for Nebraska as she smashed her third two-run bomb on the day giving the Huskers the early 2-0 lead. Tiger pitched Casey Stangel looked to be settling in nicely, but after setting down 10 straight batters she surrendered a three-run shot to Kiki Stokes pushing the Husker lead to 5-0.
In the bottom of the fifth Missouri tallied their only run of the game as Kelsea Roth hammered a shot to right to cut the deficit to 5-1. The Tigers kept the pressure with two runners in scoring position, but failed to convert.
Nebraska would add four more insurance runs, two of which came from Decker’s fourth homer of the day, completing the sweep and eliminating Missouri from playoff contention.
With the win Nebraska advances to the super regional where they will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide next weekend. With the loss the Tigers season comes to a disappointing end. The team finishes 43-18 for the season.
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