Missouri softball was on the road again this weekend, playing a doubleheader today at Alabama. The No. 15 Tigers held off the No. 6 Crimson Tide in the first game 7–3 with outstanding defense and big hits from big players, but they couldn’t break through Alabama’s defense in the second game, losing 9–1.
####Game 1
Missouri struck first in the first inning, with senior shortstop Sami Fagen hitting an RBI to bring senior center-fielder Taylor Gadbois to home plate. Third baseman sophomore Amanda Sanchez brought in another run with her fifth straight RBI. Freshman pitcher Paige Lowary had her 13th start in the circle for Mizzou in the bottom of the first, and with the help of the outfield, did not let Alabama score during the inning.
In the third inning, junior second baseman Natalie Fleming brought in two runs with a hit to left field. After a stolen base by freshman left fielder Regan Nash and a wild throw by the Alabama catcher, Fleming ran home and put the Tigers up 5–0.
Alabama scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning and threatened to score two more, but the Missouri outfield ended the inning easily.
A big fourth inning for the Crimson Tide brought in three runs, but it ended with a third out by Fagen. Missouri came back with vengeance, with Sanchez hitting a home run, her third of the season, to give Missouri another run. After two outs from the Alabama infield, Fleming hit a sharp line drive over the left field fence to bring in another run for the Tigers. The two home runs were the only hits in the frame for Missouri, and they put the Tigers up 7–3.
Defense held out in the next four frames for both the Tigers and Crimson Tide, leading up to the bottom of the seventh inning and Missouri only needing three outs to seal the deal. Lowary and the Missouri outfield got the job done, taking the opener with a final score of 7–3.
####Game 2
Alabama put itself on the board first in the second game of the doubleheader with a two-run home run.
The scoring didn’t stop for Alabama as they picked up three more runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Tigers finally got a run on the board with a solo home run from senior right fielder Emily Crane, her seventh of the year.
Right-handed pitcher Danielle Baumgartner, a freshman, threw her first strikeout of the game in the top of the fourth inning, which was followed by two more outs from the Tigers defense to shut out the frame.
Missouri couldn’t seem to get around a strong Alabama defense to score any more runs in the top of the fourth inning, and the Alabama offense proved too strong as well. The Crimson Tide hit another home run to bring home three more runners. Missouri coach Ehren Earleywhine headed to the circle to replace Baumgartner with right-handed pitcher Cheyenne Baxter, a junior. Senior Sami Fagen ended the inning with the last out for the Tiger defense.
In the top of the sixth inning, Alabama clinched their run-rule victory over Missouri with another run batted in, splitting the doubleheader series.
The Tigers will stay in Tuscaloosa until Monday, when they play the Crimson Tide once more at 6 p.m.
_Edited by George Roberson | groberson@themaneater.com_
