FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 18/19 Mizzou Softball fell behind early to No. 8/6 Arkansas, trailing 6-0 after two innings. The Tigers’ comeback attempt fell short in the seventh with the bases loaded. The game ended with an 8-4 final.
Arkansas put up four runs before the Tigers were able to record an out. Back-to-back walks followed by back-to-back home runs allowed the Razorbacks to take control of the game in the first inning. Mizzou escaped the inning without allowing another run, as Arkansas had put runners on the corners.
The scoring continued in the second. Four singles for the Razorback hitters put up two more runs, pushing the lead to 6-0. The inning ended with the bases loaded.
After both teams went down in order in the third, the Tigers fought back. In the top of the fourth, Hatti Moore led off with a single to left. With one out, Kimberly Wert launched a 3-2 pitch well over the center field wall to cut into the Arkansas lead. It was Wert’s 15th home run of the season, putting the score at 6-2. After a Cayla Kessinger single, Emma Raabe showed off her strength with a tape-measure home run to left that landed in the parking lot outside of the stadium. Mizzou cut the Arkansas lead to 6-4 midway through the fourth.
TURNING POINT
Arkansas responded quickly. Burnside led off the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to left-center, immediately responding to the Mizzou comeback.
In the top of the fifth, Jenna Laird ripped a one-out double off the left center wall. The Tigers were unable to bring her around to score, as she was stranded on third base after moving over on a groundout.
Arkansas added another run in the bottom of the fifth with a walk and a pair of singles with two outs. Laurin Krings entered and recorded the final out with a three-pitch strikeout.
After each team went down in order in the sixth, the Tigers had one final chance to tie it up. Alex Honnold knocked a one-out single into center and Brooke Wilmes reached on an infield single to put some pressure on Arkansas. After a pitching change, Jenna Laird walked on four pitches to bring the tying run to the plate. It would not be the Tigers’ day, as a sharply hit ball finds the second baseman and a double play ends the game.
TOP TIGERS
Laurin Krings was effective once again for the Tigers. The freshman went 1.1 innings with two strikeouts, and she allowed no baserunners.
Emma Raabe provided two big runs for the Mizzou offense with her massive home run.
Kimberly Wert got the scoring started with her two-run home run in the fourth.
NOTES
Kimberly Wert smacked her 15th home run of the season, it is the second time in her career that she has reached that mark in a season.
Emma Raabe’s home run was the 10th of her career.
Casidy Chaumont extends her reached-base streak to 17 games.
UP NEXT
Florida will travel to Columbia for the Tigers’ final home series of the season. The series will get underway on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus.
