Missouri Drowns SLU in Rain-Shortened Game

Kristen Mack hit her 10th home run of the season and Sami Fagan got her team-leading 37th RBI as Mizzou holds off SLU to win 10-6 in a rain shortened game.

Already up 1-0, Mizzou batted around during the second inning. Kristen Mack hit an opposite field home run to score Kelsea Roth.

Three consecutive singles loaded the bases for Sami Fagan. Fagan hit a long fly ball to left center for a sacrifice fly and Amanda Sanchez followed with a single to push the led to 5-0.

However, Missouri’s pitching hit a wall and Missouri would surrender the lead.

Finucane struck out the first batter she faced in the top of the fourth inning, then was taken out of the game in favor of Cheyenne Baxter.

Baxter came in and loaded the bases, recorded an error and surrendered an unearned run. She was relieved by Paige Lowary after failing to record an out in four batters.

Lowary promptly struck out the first hitter she faced. It looked like the Tigers would get out of the inning unscathed, but on a 3-2 count with two outs Allie Macfarlane hit a grand slam to give SLU the lead 6-5.

“Walked too many people and got behind in counts,” said MU head coach Ehren Earleywine. “It’s what they have been doing for the last two or three weeks.”

With the Tigers trailing by one run and rain on its way, Missouri was on the clock to score runs.

“I knew it was coming,” Earleywine said. “I knew we needed to get a run really quick.”

Junior Kayla Kingsley led off the inning with an infield single, and advanced to second on a throwing error by the second baseman. After moving to third base on a ground out, Sami Fagan delivered her second sacrifice fly in as many at bats to tie the score at six.

Kelsea Roth walked for the third time in the game to leadoff the inning. Sophomore, Morgan Walters pinch ran for her, and then the fireworks started. After a walk advanced Walters to second, the freshman and sophomore Anna Reed attempted a double steal.

The steal attempt resulted in a SLU’s third error of the game when catcher Hailey Weavers sailed high past third. The errant throw allowed Walters to score and gave the Tigers the lead. Mizzou made the score 8-6 when Kayla Kingsley singled home Reed.

Missouri would add two insurance runs in the sixth inning to increase the lead to 10-6.

With the four run lead, Coach Earleywine had no problem when the rain engulfed University Field in the top of the seventh inning.

Paige Lowary surrendered a walk to lead off the seventh inning. Lowary then hit the next batter.

“Lowary lost control, and pounded the kid in the shoulder,” said Coach Earleywine. “We called a drop ball right down the middle, and she is wild, but she is not that wild.”

Coach Earleywine then alerted the umpires the weather was a factor.

Despite SLU threatening to make a comeback with two runners on and no outs in the seventh inning, the umpires called the game and thwarted the comeback attempt.

Missouri heads to Georgia this weekend to take on the 9th ranked Bulldogs.

4/03/15 at Georgia 5:00 p.m.

4/04/15 at Georgia 1:00 p.m.

4/05/15 at Georgia 1:00 p.m.