On the second day of the Mizzou Tournament, the Tigers dropped both of their games to Pittsburgh and Oregon.
In its first game Saturday, Missouri headed into the bottom of the seventh down two runs. The Tigers had several opportunities to take the lead earlier on, having stranded nine in the first six innings.
“It really came down to early on,” coach Larissa Anderson said. “We had runners in scoring position and if you have a hard hit ball in that situation, the momentum completely changes.”
Missouri started to form a comeback in the seventh. With one out, sophomore Hatti Moore reached first on an error. Freshman Emma Raabe came in to pinch hit and singled to left field, putting Moore in scoring position. Senior Kolby Romaine then came up to the plate and drove in Moore on a single to left. With the tying run on second, redshirt freshman Kendyll Bailey flew out on a foul ball on the first base line. Freshman Geana Torres then struck out swinging to end the game.
Freshman Jazmyn Rollin and sophomore Callie Martin had given Missouri an early lead with RBI singles in the first and second innings, respectively. Pittsburgh responded with a two-run home run in the third and another two-run shot in the fifth.
Following the 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh, Missouri took on Oregon. The Tigers could not seem to pick up momentum following the first loss.
Redshirt senior Madi Norman was able to control the Oregon offense for a majority of the game, but the Ducks were able to capitalize on her in the second inning. Norman gave up three runs in the second, including a two-run homer. Oregon added to its lead with an unearned run in the fifth.
Sophomore Kara Decker responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, giving Missouri its only run of the game.
“It was one I wanted to swing at,” Decker said. “I was thinking I wanted a hard pitch early in the count, and that’s what it was.”
Romaine followed Decker with a double, Missouri’s only other hit of the game. The Tigers fell 4-1.
“We looked tired,” Anderson said. “We played tired.”
_Edited by Emily Leiker | eleiker@themaneater.com_