Mizzou succumbs to shutout loss in series finale at Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Softball has fallen victim to its third SEC sweep of the season.

The Tigers (23-29) were held scoreless by No. 15 Alabama (35-18) to close out their three-game series, falling 2-0 at Rhoads Stadium.

MU's path to an NCAA Tournament berth is much less clear, following the team's three losses to the Crimson Tide. Mizzou, who sits in last place in the SEC standings, became mathematically unable to end the regular season with a record above the .500-mark and owns just four wins over conference opponents ahead of its last series.

Marissa McCann tossed four scoreless innings in her five-inning start but ran into trouble in the fifth and sixth frames. Lauren Johnson delivered the game's first run with an RBI single that snuck into center field. Then, Brooke Ellestad supplied another run with a solo shot to right field that put Alabama ahead 2-0 in the sixth inning. The sophomore right-hander allowed just two runs on seven hits while striking out three batters during her outing.

Madison Uptegrove paced the Tigers with the team's only multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Madison Walker, Taylor Ebbs and Claire Cahalan also tallied one hit each. However, MU ended the game hitless with runners on base (0-for-6) and made too much weak contact against Alabama's Jocelyn Briski, who struck out five batters in a complete game shutout.

Up next - Mizzou returns home for its final SEC series of the regular season. The Tigers begin a three-game set with No. 24 Georgia on Thursday, May 1 at 6 p.m.