Mizzou softball bested its longtime rival, the Kansas Jayhawks, on Wednesday, bringing home a victory in the 119th game in matchup history. The Tigers now lead the all-time series 73-46.
The Jayhawks started freshman Blakely Barber, who ran into trouble early. After retiring the first two Tiger hitters, she walked freshman Abby Carr and allowed a single to junior Abby Hay, advancing Carr to third on the play. Freshman Sidney Forrester then roped a single to center field to drive the first run of the game.
The Tigers continued to get runners on base in the second, as junior Claire Cahalan beat out an infield single. Cahalan advanced to second from a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Sophie Smith. Senior Kayley Lenger then got hit by a pitch, followed by a walk from freshman Addy Waits. Junior Stefania Abruscato then hit a sacrifice fly to bring Missouri’s lead to 2-0.
Sophomore Marissa McCann slabbed the toe for the Tigers and pitched a gem. She went nearly untouched for five innings, allowing two hits to Jayhawk hitters.
The drama began in the sixth inning, as it always seems to when these programs square off.
McCann, who had been untouchable all night, finally looked human — she gave up back-to-back singles and would be chased from the game with Carr reliving her. Carr got the next two batters out, bringing the situation to second and third with two outs. This brought up junior utility player Anna Soles. She would ambush the first pitch of the at-bat, skying it to left field. Cahalan, who had come back into the game for defensive purposes, barreled down the line and attempted to make a spectacular catch, with the ball scooting past her glove, making for a game-tying, two-RBI triple for Soles. Carr struck the next batter out, making the score 2-2.
This brought up the seventh and final inning. After an Abruscato pop-up, Carr would walk, bringing up Columbia native Abby Hay. Hay worked a 3-1 count and then went ¡Plakata! to right center field, giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, Carr came back out to try and seal the win. After getting the first out on a pop-up, she walked senior Emma Tatum and brought up the tying run. Senior Aynslee Linduff grounded out, but advanced Tatum to second in doing so. Kansas star Presley Limbaugh came up to bat as the tying run with two outs, and beat out an infield single to advance Tatum to third, bringing the situation to first and third with freshman Ella Boyer, the potential game-winning run, up to bat.
Boyer had a rough game up to this point, beginning the game 0-3 with a strikeout, but had a chance to be the hero. Instead, she struck out for the second time, ending the Jayhawks’ chances of a comeback. Carr picked up the win in relief.
The Tigers will return home to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks at 6 p.m. Friday.
