This weekend was the final regular-season series for Mizzou softball, and it was its most important of the year. Coming into the series, the Tigers were one game over .500. According to NCAA rules, they need to be at least .500 to make the postseason.
Game one – Tennessee 3, Mizzou 1
Senior ace Cierra Harrison got the ball for the first game of this crucial series and delivered a strong performance.
In the bottom of the first, the Tigers put together great at-bats and forced three walks. They chased junior Sage Mardjetko after two-thirds of an inning. The Lady Volunteers brought in senior flame thrower Karlyn Pickens and escaped the inning unscathed.
The top of the fifth inning is when the trouble started for the Tigers. After a leadoff single, an error from Harrison and a sacrifice bunt, the situation was runners on second and third base with one out. Sophomore pinch hitter Makenzie Butt then drove in both runs on a single, making the lead two.
In the top of the sixth, junior Alannah Leach hit a home run, pushing the lead to three for the Lady Volunteers. At the bottom half of the inning, the Tigers finally broke out of their offensive slumber when junior Stefania Abruscato turned on a 76-mph fastball and cut the lead to two.
The seventh inning was dramatic, highlighted by great defense and missed opportunities. In the top half of the inning with one out, freshman third baseman Addy Waits made a stellar defensive play. She snared a ball off a one hop from her knees, spun and threw out the runner at first.
In the bottom half, the Tigers ultimately fell short, leaving two runners on.
Game two – Tennessee 4, Mizzou 2
Junior Marissa McCann got the start for game two of the series, also delivering a strong performance. The Tigers’ offense once again forced Mardjetko into some early trouble. Waits drew a leadoff walk and stole second on Abby Carr’s strikeout. Abruscato drove in Waits on a single down the line.
The Lady Volunteers tied the game in the top of the third inning, with sophomore infielder Ella Dodge hitting her 11th home run of the season.
The top of the fourth inning brought more issues for the Tigers. With two outs, sophomore shortstop Madison Uptegrove made a rare error for the Tigers’ defense, extending the inning for the Lady Volunteers. They took advantage of the opportunity, hitting back-to-back singles and scoring two more runs unearned. Senior Courtney Donahue relieved McCann to get the Tigers out of the inning.
In the top of the fifth, the Lady Volunteers added to their lead when Butt knocked in junior Gabby Leach for another pinch hit RBI single. The Tigers scored in the bottom half from an RBI groundout from freshman Sidney Forrester.
Game three – Mizzou 4, Tennessee 3
Harrison started in what could be her final game as a Tiger and pitched another good game.
The Lady Volunteers’ offense got started early. After a leadoff walk from Dodge, Alannah Leach grounded out, with Dodge advancing to third on the play. Gabby Leach doubled to drive in Dodge and give them an early lead.
The Lady Volunteers added onto their lead at the top of the fourth when freshman catcher Elsa Morrison connected on her fifth home run of the year, making the lead two.
The Tigers’ offense got going in the bottom of the inning. Freshman outfielder Linny Ramsey led off with a single, followed by a walk from Uptegrove. Senior outfielder Kayley Lenger bunted the runners over, making the situation second and third with one out. The Tigers scored on a wild pitch, but left the tying run on third.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, junior first baseman Abby Hay hit a game-tying home run to left field.
The top of the sixth inning started with a leadoff walk from sophomore first baseman Emma Clarke; she was pinch-run for sophomore Zoie Shuler. Shuler advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a wild pitch. After the next batter struck out, junior Sophia Knight parachuted a ball into shallow left field, driving in the go-ahead run for the Lady Volunteers.
In the bottom of the inning, Carr drove in the go-ahead runs on an RBI single. Carr shut down the Lady Volunteers from the mound in the top of the seventh and got the win.
The Tigers play Auburn in the Southeastern Conference Tournament starting Tuesday.
