4 weeks ago
Through 5 innings, Mizzou softball had a 2-0 lead complete Auburn and appeared fresh to punch its summons to nan NCAA Tournament. But that dream quickly fell backmost to reality arsenic nan guidance piled connected six runs successful nan last 2 innings. The Tiger discourtesy couldn’t respond arsenic Mizzou fell 6-2 successful nan opening information of nan SEC Tournament, finishing nan play astatine 28-29 and officially missing nan NCAA Tournament for nan 2nd consecutive season.
Cierra Harrison impressed done her first 5 innings of work, shutting down Auburn pinch nary runs connected nan board. But she was yet pulled successful nan apical of nan six aft nan visitors led disconnected nan inning pinch a triple that couldn’t beryllium tracked down by Linny Ramsey successful left. That runner came astir to people connected a grounded backmost prime from catcher Stefania Abruscato, cutting nan Mizzou lead to one. Harrison was officially credited pinch 5 innings pitched, allowing 3 hits and 1 tally while stepping 2 and striking retired three. She did everything she could successful what ended up being her last crippled arsenic a Tiger. (Editor’s Note: I emotion CC and this nonaccomplishment was not connected her.)
Abby Carr came successful to switch her, starting beardown pinch back-to-back strikeouts. But she quickly mislaid control, allowing a locomotion and a azygous to shallow near that moved runners to nan corners pinch 2 outs. Auburn tied nan crippled connected a chaotic transportation successful nan ungraded that skipped distant earlier taking nan lead connected a 2-run homer from Haven Roebuck. Carr closed nan inning pinch a groundout, but nan harm had already been done. The Tigers were successful nan threat zone.
Auburn extended nan lead pinch 2 much runs successful nan seventh, starting pinch a solo homer from Kyla Stroud to lead disconnected nan seventh. Carr walked nan adjacent batter, starring to her being pulled from nan crippled successful favour of Marissa McCann. In retrospect, a amended prime than going to a freshman whitethorn person been keeping successful Harrison aliases going to nan different vet, McCann, sooner. Carr was credited pinch nan loss, pitching 1 inning while allowing 3 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
McCann recorded back-to-back outs, but Auburn tacked connected 1 last tally pinch a deed by transportation past a single. McCann closed nan inning pinch a groundout arsenic nan Tigers trailed by 4 pinch 3 outs left.
Mizzou’s last chance went retired pinch a whimper, arsenic Abruscato walked but was nan only baserunner successful nan last inning. The Tigers recorded nary runs and only 3 hits crossed nan last six innings aft 2 runs and 2 hits successful nan first.
Here’s really it started.
Addy Waits led disconnected nan bottommost of nan first inning by drafting a locomotion connected a afloat count, advancing to 2nd connected a passed ball. Abruscato put a 2nd runner connected guidelines pinch a locomotion of her own. Carr lifted a shot into heavy near section for a double, pushing location nan first tally of nan game. Hay struck retired for nan first retired of nan inning earlier Sidney Forrester scored Abruscato pinch an RBI single. The early momentum came to a halt aft a groundout and strikeout disconnected Auburn starter Ella Harrison.
Missouri’s champion chance for immoderate much runs came during nan bottommost of nan fourth. Saniya Hill led disconnected nan bottommost of nan inning pinch a azygous earlier advancing to 3rd pinch nan thief of a chaotic transportation and a fielder’s choice. Pinch hitter Gracie Britton reached first connected a grounder to nan pitcher that was misplayed arsenic Auburn tried to propulsion retired Hill diving backmost to nan base. Pinch runner Claire Cahalan stole second, putting 2 runners successful scoring position pinch 1 out. But Mizzou couldn’t adhd to its lead aft a strikeout and a DEEP flyout to halfway from Waits ended nan inning.
The Tigers continued to struggled stringing together hits, finishing nan crippled 2-12 pinch runners connected guidelines and 1-5 pinch a runner connected 3rd and little than 2 outs. The 5 hits came from 5 abstracted players, pinch Carr signaling nan only other guidelines deed of nan game. Abruscato had a beardown crippled astatine nan plate, drafting 2 walks while scoring a run. Her protect miscues later successful nan game, will beryllium astir memorable successful this one.
Now astatine 28-29, Mizzou’s play has officially travel to a adjacent arsenic they will miss nan NCAA Tournament pinch a below-.500 record. This marks nan 2nd play successful a statement they’ve missed nan Big Dance and nan first clip they’ve done truthful successful back-to-back seasons since a 3-year drought from 2000-2002. (Madam Editor was successful assemblage astatine Mizzou nan past clip this happened, you guys.)
After an optimistic push to adjacent nan season, that has each travel crashing down pinch this loss. While nan early is agleam pinch only 4 departing seniors (Harrison being nan main blow), it begs nan mobility of what nan Tigers tin do to get backmost to not only making nan NCAA Tournament, but competing to big a location arsenic a apical 16 squad successful nan sport.
