Madison Steuber
Kara Daly and Lily Whitten high five after an out. Mizzou won against SIUE 1-4 on April 17.
Missouri softball hosted No. 1 Texas on April 5-6 for a three-game series. The Tigers, despite pushing the final game to extra innings, lost the series 3-0 to the Longhorns.
Game One
Missouri started the series against Texas on Saturday, April 5, losing 8-0. Due to the run-ahead rule, the game lasted for five innings, with the Longhorns’ three-run fifth inning securing them the win.
In the top of the first, Texas first baseman Joley Mitchell sent a fastball to the fence for a three-run home run. The Longhorns scored a second home run later in the third inning, with catcher Reese Atwood’s high-flying hit to the left hill.
In the at-bat after Atwood’s deep ball, junior outfielder Kayley Lenger got her first putout of the game on a diving catch. Lenger’s putout was one of 15 that Missouri got in the loss. The Tigers also didn’t record a hit in the match, striking out 11 times.
Game Two
After the opening loss, Missouri returned a day later to kick off a Sunday doubleheader to close out the series. Unlike the shutout in the first meeting, the Tigers scored three late runs in game two. The efforts weren’t enough, however, as Missouri fell to the Longhorns 4-3.
Needing four runs to tie the game after Mitchell’s RBI single and catcher Katie Stewart’s three RBI home runs, Tiger third baseman Kara Daly answered the call. She hit a deep ball to center field, scoring three runs and bringing the game within one run.
Missouri recorded six hits in the game, with senior catcher Julia Crenshaw and sophomore right fielder Stefania Abruscato recording two each. Texas tallied four hits, with one double and a home run.
Game Three
Wrapping up the Sunday doubleheader — and the series — the Tigers and Longhorns returned to the diamond. Despite pushing the game to extra innings, Texas’ two runs in the eighth were enough for the win. They defeated Missouri 3-1, winning the series 3-0.
In the fourth inning, trailing by one, sophomore first baseman Madison Walker hit a solo home run to right field to tie the game. Texas’ one run prior was also from a home run, with third baseman Mia Scott’s deep ball.
Like the previous match, the Tigers totaled six hits in the game. Crenshaw led the team with three of those. The Longhorns hit nine base hits, with three for extra bases. Three Texas players tallied two hits in the game, including Scott.
Missouri stayed on home turf for a game against Southern Illinois on Wednesday, April 9. The Salukis ended up on top, winning 5-3.
Edited by Killian Wright | kwright@themaneater.com
Edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneter.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com