(Photo Credit: Mike Krebs- MUTigers.com)
Kirsten Mack became the hero of the day for the Missouri Tigers softball team. Her grand slam in the top of the third, which at the time appeared to be the pivotal blow, became crucial in the Tigers 7-6 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks. With the victory over the Jayhawks in the Columbia regional Missouri now advances to take on UCLA next week.
With Paige Lowary initially ruled unavailable prior to the start of Sunday’s finale Tori Finucane stepped into the circle for the third straight game. A deja vú scenario set in early as the Jayhawks quickly had the bases loaded in the bottom of the first.
After notching the game winning RBI’s against Indiana State, Jessie Roane put Kansas on the board first with an RBI single scoring Chaley Brickey. A single from Erin McGinley stretched the Jayhawks lead to 2-0 before Finucane put out the fire with a ground ball out.
The Tigers responded in similar fashion to yesterday registering a trio of runs the following inning to take the lead 3-2. A hit by pitch and a walk gave Missouri its first base runners of the game. Mack then stepped up and laced a double into the gap scoring Amanda Sanchez. Later Angela Randazzo hit a bloop single scoring Corrine Genovese to tie the game up 2-2. Mack then scored on a wild pitch to give the Tigers the 3-2 lead.
Finucane couldn’t seem to find the zone in the bottom half of the second prompting Missouri skipper Ehren Earlywine to call on Cheyenne Baxter in relief. She did the job working around a bases loaded jam to end the inning with the lead in tact.
Kansas had the bases loaded on four separate occasions, but failed to capitalize until late in the game. In total the Jayhawks left 14 runners on base during the game, a big reason all weekend that contributed to their losses.
The Missouri offense however continued to dominate and with the bases loaded Mack hammered a deep home run into the bushes past the left field wall to stretch the Tigers lead to 7-2. The Tigers home run leader (15) accounted for a career high five RBI’s and a pair of runs scored on the afternoon. In three career games against Kansas she has seven RBI’s and two home runs.
Over the next three innings Baxter put in solid work striking out three batters and working around another bases loaded jam in the third. Stellar defense behind Baxter by Genovese and Taylor Gadbois kept the Jayhawks off the board.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the sixth. Down 7-2 with four outs remaining Kansas started a rally at the expense of the Missouri defense. An error and a hit by pitch contributed to yet another bases loaded situation for the Jayhawks. This time they capitalized.
An error on the part of Kelsea Roth scored a run for Kansas before Briana Evans laid down a bunt single to plate a second Kansas runner to trim the Tiger lead to 7-4. After Baxter hit her second batter of the inning shrinking the lead to 7-5 Earlywine opted for the recovering Lowary to limit the damage.
Lowary, who is battling an illness, was not expected to pitch at all this weekend. Following a four-pitch walk, Lowary escaped further damage with a fly out to end the rally and keep a one run lead for Missouri.
Despite giving up another walk in the bottom of the seventh Lowary closed out the victory as the Tigers pick up the Columbia regional championship by a final of 7-6.
Missouri moved to 41-14 on the season as Baxter picked up her third win and Lowary earned her fourth save on the year, while Kansas finished its 2015 campaign 40-15. Up next the Tigers head to California to take the 7th seeded UCLA Bruins, who defeated San Diego State 8-0. UCLA previously beat Missouri this season 8-0. However, Missouri beat the Bruins lasted time the pair faced off in the 2009 Super Regional.
Coach Earlywine noted after the game the challenge #7 UCLA presents in a super regional.
“It’ll be an enormous challenge. They do everything well. They have the Player of the Year in the PAC 12 in the circle. They’re hitting .370 as a team. They play great defense. We’re at their place, but we’ve done it before and we can do it again.”
For the Tigers riding the senior leadership is key. The pitching is not always going to be 100 percent so the offense and defense need to continue to perform at the high levels.
The shaky defense today is a bit of a pause because in these later game situations mistakes need to be few and far in between to come out on top. Though the Tigers have shown they’re a contender from day one and no matter who is called upon to make the big play they’re all more than capable.
For more Missouri Tigers softball coverage throughout the Super Regional and Women’s NCAA College World Series follow @NickYahl on Twitter.
