Kelsea Roth Powers Mizzou to a Sweep over Southeast Missouri

Kelsea Roth homered for the second time in three games while Paige Lowary had a career high nine strikeouts, as Mizzou softball swept SEMO in a double header.

In game one, the Tigers came within inches of losing their first game to an in-state rival in Ehren Earleywine’s career, but senior Kelsea Roth wasn’t going to let that happen.

“It was the perfect storm for us to lose,” said Coach Earleywine. “Then it gets late in the game and everyone starts pressing.”

With two runners in scoring position, two outs and two strikes Kelsey Roth took a very close pitch. It was a ball.

“Those pitches were too close to take, and she got lucky,” said Earelywine.

Then she took another pitch just as close. It was also a ball.

“Maybe next time I won’t take that pitch,” said Roth. “But in that situation I was like okay, next pitch you have to recover.”

With her mind made up to swing, she saw a pitch a little bit closer to the plate and delivered a walk-off two run single to left field. The hit prevented Mizzou from spoiling a career day by freshman Paige Lowary.

Lowary struggled with shin splints in the first few innings of her home debut. It looked like she was headed for a short day. The freshman issued her fourth walk of the game in the third as Cheyenne Baxter made her way to the bullpen.

“If her shin kept bothering her we were going to bring Cheyenne in,” said Earleywine

Lowary struck out the next batter, and went on to retire the next 14 batters in order. She finished the game allowing one run on three hits while racking up a career nine strikeouts.

It was a good thing she found her rhythm because the Tigers bats struggled. Mizzou would get a runner in scoring position in each of the first six innings. However the Tigers failed to bring a runner across the plate.

Lowary’s performance allowed the Tigers to stay within one run, and in the bottom of the seventh inning all she could do was watch.

Sami Fagan lead off the seventh inning with a walk. She would advance to second on a balk with the heart of the order due up.

However, much like the first six innings, the next two batters would fail bring her in from second.

It appeared the Tigers would leave their 12th runner on base, but Morgan Walters extended the game with an infield single, and promptly stole second setting the stage for Kelsea Roth.

With two strikes and two outs, Roth delivered an RBI single to win the game.

The walk-off hit lead to a more confident team heading into game two of the double header.

“This next game we are going to come out and we are going to score every inning,” said Roth.

Mizzou followed through with the game plan. In the first inning a two out double by Corin Genovese would bring in two runs.

A double by Angela Randazzo and an infield single by Natalie Fleming would push across two more runs to give Mizzou a four run lead.

In the second inning, Mizzou added to their lead. An RBI single by Fagan brought Roth to the plate again with two runners on base.

Roth hit a three-run home run off the scoreboard to give her five RBI’s on the day and Mizzou an eight run lead.

Coach Earleywine was able to get some of his freshman into the game because of the big lead.

“I just want to thank the starters for allowing these kids to get some opportunities to play,” said Coach Earleywine. “They do work so hard and you want to see them rewarded for that.”

Freshman infielder from Jefferson City, Paige Bange took advantage of the opportunity, and hit a solo home run for the first hit of her career.

“I was seeing her good so whenever I got up to the plate I was ready,” said Bange. ” Then swing hard, and it went out.”