Mizzou Unable to Finish Sweep Against LSU
Missouri bats go cold, as LSU avoids a sweep and run-rules Mizzou 9-0.
Mizzou managed to put runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but couldn’t capitalize.
LSU pitcher, Carley Hoover, scattered four hits over five shutout innings and struck out four.
“We didn’t jump on the good pitches early,” said outfielder Emily Crane. “We took a lot of strikes early in the count compared to the two days before. If we would have jumped on those a little bit earlier, the game would have been different.”
Facing freshman Paige Lowary for the third consecutive game, LSU’s bats came alive for the first time in the third inning.
An illegal pitch by Lowary moved LSU center fielder, A.J. Andrews, to third base. Bailey Landry made Missouri pay for the mistake by hitting a high chopper for an infield single to score Andrews from third.
Lowary, pitching for the third straight day, could not stop the bleeding. The next two batters reached base on a hit by pitch and walk to load the bases. A sac fly made the score 2-0, but LSU wasn’t done.
Next batter, Sandra Simmons, hit a home run over the bleachers in left field with two runners on base. The home run capped a five run inning to give LSU a 5-0 lead. Simmons finished the game 2 for 3 with a home run and 3 RBI.
“She just didn’t have enough bullets in the chamber,” said Head Coach Ehren Earleywine when asked about Lowary’s performance.
Two innings later, LSU manufactured another big inning. Bianka Bell started the fifth inning with a line drive home run to make the score 6-0. Two sharp singles later, Lowary was replaced by Cheyenne Baxter.
Baxter allowed two inherited runners to score on a double by designated player Dylan Supak, 1-3 and 2 RBI, to give LSU an 8-0 lead. Layna Savoie, pinch running for Supak, scored on a single by Emily Griggs to make the score 9-0.
Facing a nine run deficit, Missouri needed a rally to extend the game. Natalie Fleming managed to get on base in the fifth inning, but Hoover shut the door once again.
Unable to finish off the sweep, Earleywine was happy winning two of three games against LSU.
“I’m disappointed for the girls because they had such a good weekend,” said Earleywine. “It ended on that note, and gives kind of gives a bad taste to the whole thing. But you take two out of three from LSU it is what it is, that’s a pretty good weekend.”
Missouri takes on Northern Iowa for a double header on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
