Through five innings, Mizzou softball had a 2-0 lead over Auburn and appeared ready to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. But that dream quickly fell back to reality as the opposition piled on six runs in the final two innings. The Tiger offense couldn’t respond as Mizzou fell 6-2 in the opening round of the SEC Tournament, finishing the season at 28-29 and officially missing the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.
Cierra Harrison impressed through her first five innings of work,
shutting down Auburn with no runs on the board. But she was finally pulled in the top of the six after the visitors led off the inning with a triple that couldn’t be tracked down by Linny Ramsey in left. That runner came around to score on a failed back pick from catcher Stefania Abruscato, cutting the Mizzou lead to one. Harrison was officially credited with five innings pitched, allowing three hits and one run while walking two and striking out three. She did everything she could in what ended up being her final game as a Tiger. (Editor’s Note: I love CC and this loss was not on her.)
Abby Carr came in to replace her, starting strong with back-to-back strikeouts. But she quickly lost control, allowing a walk and a single to shallow left that moved runners to the corners with two outs. Auburn tied the game on a wild pitch in the dirt that skipped away before taking the lead on a 2-run homer from Haven Roebuck. Carr closed the inning with a groundout, but the damage had already been done. The Tigers were in the danger zone.
Auburn extended the lead with two more runs in the seventh, starting with a solo homer from Kyla Stroud to lead off the seventh. Carr walked the next batter, leading to her being pulled from the game in favor of Marissa McCann. In retrospect, a better choice than going to a freshman may have been keeping in Harrison or going to the other vet, McCann, sooner. Carr was credited with the loss, pitching one inning while allowing three hits, five runs, two walks and two strikeouts.
McCann recorded back-to-back outs, but Auburn tacked on one final run with a hit by pitch then a single. McCann closed the inning with a groundout as the Tigers trailed by four with three outs left.
Mizzou’s final chance went out with a whimper, as Abruscato walked but was the only baserunner in the final inning. The Tigers recorded no runs and only three hits across the final six innings after two runs and two hits in the first.
Here’s how it started.
Addy Waits led off the bottom of the first inning by drawing a walk on a full count, advancing to second on a passed ball. Abruscato put a second runner on base with a walk of her own. Carr lifted a ball into deep left field for a double, pushing home the first run of the game. Hay struck out for the first out of the inning before Sidney Forrester scored Abruscato with an RBI single. The early momentum came to a halt after a groundout and strikeout off Auburn starter Ella Harrison.
Missouri’s best chance for any more runs came during the bottom of the fourth. Saniya Hill led off the bottom of the inning with a single before advancing to third with the help of a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice. Pinch hitter Gracie Britton reached first on a grounder to the pitcher that was misplayed as Auburn tried to throw out Hill diving back to the base. Pinch runner Claire Cahalan stole second, putting two runners in scoring position with one out. But Mizzou couldn’t add to its lead after a strikeout and a DEEP flyout to center from Waits ended the inning.
The Tigers continued to struggled stringing together hits, finishing the game 2-12 with runners on base and 1-5 with a runner on third and less than two outs. The five hits came from five separate players, with Carr recording the only extra base hit of the game. Abruscato had a strong game at the plate, drawing two walks while scoring a run. Her defensive miscues later in the game, will be most memorable in this one.
Now at 28-29, Mizzou’s season has officially come to a close as they will miss the NCAA Tournament with a below-.500 record. This marks the second season in a row they’ve missed the Big Dance and the first time they’ve done so in back-to-back seasons since a 3-year drought from 2000-2002. (Madam Editor was in college at Mizzou the last time this happened, you guys.)
After an optimistic push to close the season, that has all come crashing down with this loss. While the future is bright with only four departing seniors (Harrison being the main blow), it begs the question of what the Tigers can do to get back to not only making the NCAA Tournament, but competing to host a regional as a top 16 team in the sport.
