Two late home runs off the bat of senior Kelsea Roth were not enough for Missouri to edge out UCLA in game two of Sunday’s Los Angeles Super Regional. The Tigers fought back from being down 8-1, but went on to lose 10-5 as the Bruins advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Missouri finishes its season with a record of 42-16.
For the second straight day the Tigers were on the board first, but the lead was short lived. Four straight singles off of Pac-12 player of the year Ally Carda gave Missouri a 1-0 lead. Though Carda limited the damage with back-to-back strikeouts to limit the damage and end the threat.
UCLA then took its turn showing why they are one of the best offenses in the NCAA plating four runs to take the lead for good. It all started with a double and a walk allowed by freshman pitcher Paige Lowary. Lowary started her second straight game since coming back from an undisclosed illness, but once again couldn’t match the dominance of the Bruin bats.
A line drive to center field by Mysha Sataraka tied the game up 1-1. A fielding error with two outs by Sami Fagan scored another UCLA run before Delaney Spaulding smashed her 20th home run of the season, a two-run shot, making it 4-1 Bruins.
UCLA extended its lead to 6-1 in the third with a home run from Sataraka before Stephany LaRosa put the lead out of reach with a three-run shot in the fourth to make it 9-1 Bruins.
A scary moment came in the top of the fifth when sophomore pitcher Tori Finucane took a line drive off the face. She was taken out of the game, but walked off the field under her own power. She was taken to the hospital for precautionary evaluation.
Facing the run rule in the bottom of the fifth the Tigers found a way to stay alive as Kirsten Mack recorded an RBI single to score Fagan and cut the deficit to 9-2.
Missouri faced the run rule again in the sixth, but Roth hit the first of her two home runs to trim the deficit back to seven 10-3. Roth then chased starter Carda in the seventh with her second jack of the game to bring Missouri within four 10-6.
Though the Tigers made a valiant effort it wouldn’t be enough as UCLA came away with the victory and advances on to Oklahoma City and the Women’s College World Series.
Missouri loses seniors Corrin Genovese, Kelsea Roth, Angela Randazzo, and Alyssa Cousins.
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