The Missouri softball team closed out their series with Alabama tonight with a cringing loss, 16–2. The defense suffered errors and the offense didn’t start swinging, while the No. 6 Crimson Tide cruised to a victory over the No. 15 Tigers.
It didn’t start out well for the Tigers (24–6, 3–3 SEC) and freshman pitcher Paige Lowary. Alabama (29–6, 3–3 SEC) had three straight bunt singles to load the bases, followed by a pop-up hit to bring in the first run for the Crimson Tide. With a dropped fly by second baseman junior Natalie Fleming, two more runs were brought in for Alabama, bringing the score to 3–0.
Missouri couldn’t get any hits or runs in the next frame, and the team had trouble yet again with Alabama’s bunting game in the bottom of the second. Alabama threatened to score two more with no outs. Coach Ehren Earleywine brought in junior Tori Finucane to replace Lowary.
The next two batters up brought in two more runs for the Crimson Tide, and Earleywine looked to the bullpen again to bring in freshman pitcher Danielle Baumgartner. That didn’t stop Alabama, who issued another base hit, and to top it all off, a three-run home run to bring the score to 9–0.
Three more big hits brought in three more runs for Alabama, and after a base hit to left field and a base hit past first base, Alabama hit their second three-run home run of the evening and put the score 15–0. Senior shortstop Sami Fagan finally ended the Tigers’ miserable inning with an out at first base.
Missouri needed some big hits to overcome an ugly second inning. With two outs already, freshman Regan Nash hit a line drive to get on base. Senior Emily Crane hit her eighth home run of the season to finally put Missouri on the board.
The Tigers couldn’t get any more on base, so they headed out to the field with relief pitcher junior Cheyenne Baxter looking to stop Alabama’s offense in the bottom of the third inning. The defense held off with only one hit from the Crimson Tide and no runs scored.
Missouri couldn’t score any runs either, as they went down in order. The strong defense on display in the last inning wasn’t so strong in the next one. A couple of wild pitches by Baxter ended with runners in scoring position, and after a base hit, Alabama put one more on the board for a lead of 16–2.
The Tigers needed to score a lot of runs heading into the top of the fifth, and it looked promising when Nash beat to ball to first base for a base hit. Crane followed suit and got on base as well, but senior Taylor Gadbois couldn’t get the hit to bring the players in. The run rule called the victory for Alabama, with a final score of 16–2.
The team will travel to St. Louis on Wednesday to play a doubleheader.
_Edited by George Roberson | groberson@themaneater.com_