CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – No. 16/19 University of Missouri softball (12-4) scored five unanswered runs against No. 6 UCLA, but could not climb out of a 7-0 deficit, falling 7-5. Mizzou finishes its weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a 4-1 record.
The Tigers fell behind in the first inning after a one-out grand slam to right field from Maya Brady.
Mizzou threatened in the second inning after a Kendyll Bailey walk and an Alex Honnold single. Bailey was able to steal third, but the Tigers could not get on the board.
The Bruins added three more in the second after starting the inning with back-to-back singles. Vines ripped a single into right and the Tigers’ relay to the plate was unsuccessful, giving the Bruins one more. A double to left center drove in both runners, putting the score at 7-0 for UCLA.
After a scoreless third inning, Mizzou was finally able to get on the board in the fourth. Kimberly Wert led off the inning with a solo blast to left center, her third of the weekend, to make it 7-1.
Mizzou climbed back into the game in the fifth. Gabi Deters led off the inning with a solo home run to left center for her first hit as a Tiger. With one out, Casidy Chaumont launched a home run to center to cut the lead to 7-3.
In the sixth, the Tigers cut into the lead even more. Kendyll Bailey crushed a solo shot down the left field line, cutting the lead to just three. With two outs in the inning, Vanessa Hollingsworth singled to center to score Alex Honnold from second, cutting the UCLA lead to 7-5. Chaumont’s bloop into left nearly fell in to add another run, but the UCLA left fielder was able to make the play.
The Tigers were unable to complete the comeback despite bringing the tying runner to the plate in the seventh.
NOTES
Kendyll Bailey homered in three-consecutive games for the first time in her career.
Kimberly Wert added her third home run of the weekend.
Casidy Chaumont homered for the second time in three games.
Gabi Deters smashed a solo home run to left center for her first hit as a Mizzou Tiger. It had been 720 days since her last collegiate hit and 721 days since her last collegiate home run. Deters sat out the 2021 season after transferring from Kentucky.
Mizzou’s four home runs are the most on the season for a single game.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will host St. Thomas and Bradley at the Mizzou Tournament for the first home weekend of the 2022 season.
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