Missouri Outlast LSU to Win Game One of Pivotal Series

#15 Missouri recorded nine hits, and added nine walks to beat #3 LSU 7-2.

Freshman pitcher Paige Lowary, who pitched seven innings and allowed just two earned runs, admitted she allowed her nerves to get in the way in the past. But she said a new “mellow” attitude allowed her to change the narrative.

“I went into the game not nervous, and I didn’t think about who was on base or what was happening,” said Lowary. “I just focused on the batter and didn’t worry about anything.”

Lowary was locked in from the beginning. Following her new approach, she wasn’t bothered when LSU scored in the first inning to take the early lead.

Just three batters into the game, Bianka Bell doubled to score leadoff hitter A.J. Andrews to give LSU a 1-0 lead.

After the first inning Lowary put up zero after zero on the scoreboard. She allowed a solo home run in the third inning, but would only allow a single infield hit after that for the rest of the game. Lowary threw a complete game and struck out nine batters allowing four hits.

When asked about his freshman’s performance in a big game, Head Coach Ehren Earleywine liked the way Lowary handled herself tonight.

“It’s awesome because the lights have gotten to her a time or two,” said Earleywine. “That was the best I’ve ever seen her pitch.”

Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Mizzou managed to load the bases in each of the first two innings, but couldn’t push a run across the plate.

The third inning didn’t start promising after two quick outs. But Kelsea Roth and Corrin Genovese had other plans.

Roth smashed a singled to center, and moved to second base on a wild pitch. With her fellow infielder at second, Corrin Genovese hit a home run to center field to tie the game 2-2. Angela Randazzo followed with a single through the left side of the infield and the rally was on. Genovese finished the game 2-4 with 2 RBI.

LSU’s pitcher Carley Hoover allowed three consecutive hard hit balls, and the momentum had sung to Missouri’s side when Angela Randazzo proceeded to steal second. The ball slipped out of catcher Kelssi Kloss hand when she tried to throw Randazzo out at second, and the game was halted for a rain delay.

Fleming grounded out to end the inning after the rain delay to end the rally, but Mizzou would keep the momentum for the balance of the game.

In the fourth inning Mizzou would capitalize again with two outs. With Emily Crane on second, Amanda Sanchez hit an opposite field home run to give Missouri the lead 4-2.

Mizzou extended the lead further in the fifth inning without recording a base hit. Roth walked to leadoff the inning. The walk forced LSU to bring in Bailey Corbello chase LSU’s Hoover from the game. Corbello induced a ground ball from Taylor Gadbois, but Constance Quinn couldn’t hold on to the throw at second base and everyone was safe.

Corbello then walked the next three batters Jordan Zoloman, Gadbois and Crane to push the Missouri lead to 7-2. Hoover re-entered the game for LSU after the fourth consecutive walk. Corbello failed to record an out while surrendering four walks and two runs.

It didn’t look like Softball would be played at University Field on Saturday night, but when the rain stopped falling mid-afternoon Earleywine was a fan of the decision to play.

“It favored us because they have four really good pitchers and the more they bunch the games close together, the more that benefits them,” said Earleywine.