No. 11 Missouri (33-10, 15-8 Southeastern Conference) won 12-8 on Sunday against the No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers (43-9, 16-6 SEC) at University Field on Senior Day.
The game ended after the top of the sixth inning due to a 2 p.m. deadline fixed for Tennessee’s travel constraints. Senior pitcher Nicole Hudson had a grand slam and six RBIs to lead the Tigers offensively.
Tennessee jumped to a quick start with a solo home run in the top first, but the Tigers responded in the bottom first with a Hudson two-run home run that scored freshman second baseman Emily Crane, who walked to lead off the inning.
The two teams split six runs in the second inning. Tennessee scored on three singles and a three-run home run to lead 7-2. The Tigers went on a hitting streak of their own in the bottom of the second. Crane walked with the bases loaded to squeeze a runner in, followed by senior catcher Rachel Hay scoring on a Volunteer error. Hudson blasted a grand slam to left field to bring in senior center fielder Jenna Marston, Crane and freshman right fielder Carlie Rose to take the 8-7 lead.
In the top third, Tennessee tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right for a run, but Missouri bounced back to score four more in the bottom third. Hay hit a two-run home run to right center, scoring junior left fielder Mackenzie Sykes, who walked leading off the inning. Marston doubled to left center, bringing in Crane, who doubled earlier. Then, sophomore third baseman Angela Randazzo singled through the right side, scoring Marston.
Hudson earned the win, pitching six innings and retired the last eight Tennessee batters. Tennessee’s pitcher Ellen Renfroe took the lost as she relived Ivy Renfroe.
Following the game, Hay, Hudson, infielder Princess Krebs, Marston, pitcher Lindsey Muller, and pitcher Chelsea Thomas were recognized for their achievements at Missouri. Senior managers Nikki D’Aurelio, Matt Guemmer and Lance McMahon were also recognized.
Coach Ehren Earleywine said that they were trying to preserve Thomas with this game.
“We didn’t see any significant value in whether we needed to win this game,” Earleywine said. “We just thought resting her would be the best thing, and (it’s) just amazing what our hitters did. “
Hudson said this was exactly the game the Tigers needed heading into the postseason.
“Looking at the paper as a matchup … I don’t think anybody was really counting on us doing what we did today,” Hudson said. “That just shows you the fight and steam and the determination. We went through so many obstacles with the weather and injuries.”
Thomas said the Tigers will be ready no matter who they play in the SEC tournament.
“We have a pretty good scouting report, so I’m pretty confident going in,” Thomas said.
The Tigers earned the No. 3 seed going in their first SEC tournament. They will face sixth-seed Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky.
The top six teams will get byes for Wednesday’s games, when eight-seed Alabama takes on nine-seed Texas A&M at 3 p.m. for a spot against top-seeded Florida on Thursday at 10 am.
Seventh-seeded Kentucky gets 10th-seeded South Carolina at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for a spot against No. 2 Tennessee on 3 p.m. Thursday.
The rest of the match ups on Thursday include four-seed Louisiana State against five-seed Georgia. The semifinals will be played Friday and the championship Saturday.
“The only thing left on my list is the national championship,” Thomas said. “So full stream ahead, we’re going after it.”
