With the 11-10 loss in extra innings in Sunday’s game versus the Arkansas Razorbacks (28-16) at University Field, the No. 8 Missouri softball team (24-6) lost its second series of the season. In the previous two games, the Tigers won 9-0 on Friday, only to fall 4-1 on Saturday.
In the first game, sophomore first baseman Kelsea Roth provided most of the offensive power, going 3 for 4 and racking up 4 RBIs. She knocked in the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning with a single. Junior center fielder Mackenzie Sykes followed with a single to right field that scored the second run.
Tigers added three more runs to their 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third with a solo home run by Sykes, a triple by senior pinch hitter Rachel Hay, and a double by freshman second baseman Emily Crane. In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers put in two more runs with a double by Roth and a single from redshirt freshman right fielder Carlie Rose. Roth then blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game based on the mercy rule.
Redshirt senior pitcher Chelsea Thomas grabbed the win, having pitched four innings, allowed two hits and struck out five batters.
It was a pitcher’s duel in the second game between Thomas and Arkansas pitcher Kimmy Beasley. Both of them pitched the whole 11 innings. Thomas allowed seven hits and one earned run with 10 strikeouts. Beasley allowed four hits and one earned run.
The Razorbacks broke the scoreless streak in the top of the seventh due to a fielding error that brought in a run. Roth’s solo home run in the bottom seventh tied the game and forced it to extra innings. But in the top of the eleventh, the Razorbacks scored three runs due to a fielding error and a sacrifice fly to get a 4-1 win.
In the rubber match, both teams were neck-and-neck in offensive effort. The Tigers scored first with a single up the middle by sophomore third baseman Angela Randazzo in the first inning. The Razorbacks took the lead with two runs in the top of the third and added two more in the top of the fifth.
The Tigers caught up and took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth, yet the Razorbacks went on a six-run streak in the top of the seventh. But the Tigers tied the game 10-10 in the bottom of the seventh with a double, a bases-loaded walk, and two singles. Arkansas then broke the tie with one run in the top of the eighth on a wild pitch.
Both teams each used three pitchers, with pitcher Chelsea Cohen earning the win for Arkansas.
Thomas was pulled after throwing just three innings on Sunday. Coach Ehren Earleywine said in order for a successful season, the team needs to manage how many innings Thomas throws in order to avoid fatigue and injury.
“Running her out there and having her fatigue and running pitch counts up … that’s not helping anybody,” Earleywine said. “Perhaps a Friday/Sunday scenario where she has all day Saturday to rest. I just need to keep her fresher because we can win games if she’s fresh.”
Hudson said despite their recent struggles, she thinks the team is going to do some great things.
“Right now it’s not the time, but I think we’re setting ourselves up for a good future,” she said.
Senior catcher Jenna Marston also offered positive words about the team’s future.
“…we’re not making excuses,” she said. “Our offensive is going to have to carry us. I think we have the ability to do that this year. “
The Tigers will play a double header against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday.