COLUMBIA-
After a trip to the SEC tournament final, the Mizzou Tigers earned a top-eight seed in the NCAA Tournament hosting Omaha, Indiana, and Washington at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
On Friday afternoon, the Tigers hosted Omaha for their first game of the Columbia Regionals, lasting 9 innings.
Cierra Harrison started in the circle for the Tigers. The Mavericks took no time getting on the board, just a mere three batters into the game, Sydney Thomassen sends one over the wall to give Omaha the lead.
The game went silent as Omaha pitcher, Kamryn Meyer kept the control in the hands of the Mavericks.
The Tigers recorded no hits through their first eight batters. Missouri saw some action in the bottom of the third and fourth, with mirror-image innings. In both situations, Missouri saw the first two batters reach base successfully. Then in a two-on and no-out situation, left both innings with no runs scored.
Marissa McCann came in to relieve Harrison in the top of 5. Harrison went 4.0 innings with 6 K and 1 ER.
Down to their last six outs at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, Mizzou got the bats rolling. Abby Hay, the freshman from Rock Bridge High School, started the rally with a single up the middle. Julia Crenshaw followed suit and the Tigers saw themselves yet again with two on and no outs. Kara Daly changed the written narrative the Tigers were facing, with a SAC fly to score Hay from third.
After a scoreless six innings from the Tigers, they force the Mavericks into extra innings. In the top of the ninth, Omaha finds a way to get one on. That was the igniting force for the Mavericks as Ava Rongisch blasted a two-run home run to put them back on top in the ninth. That’s all the action McCann saw going 4.2 IP with 2 ER, being relieved by Taylor Pannell.
The Tigers can’t match the Mavericks, Meyers throws a complete nine innings for the Mavericks allowing 1 ER with 6 K’s on 158 pitches.
Missouri is set to face Indiana at 4:30 on Saturday, May 18 as they enter the losers bracket.
Columbia Regional Schedule-
Friday, May 17- Game 1: Washington vs. Indiana, 8-7 (Washington)
Friday, May 17- Game 2: Omaha vs. Missouri, 3-1 (Omaha)
Saturday, May 18- Game 3: 2 p.m., Washington vs. Omaha
Saturday, May 18- Game 4: 4:30 p.m., Indiana vs. Missouri
Saturday, May, 18- Game 5: 7 p.m., Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3
Sunday, May 19- Game 6: TBD
Sunday, May 19- Game 7: TBD if necessary
