Mizzou’s Danielle Blackstun runs the bases during Game 1 of the Tigers’ Thursday doubleheader against Texas A&M. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Paige Dale Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri women’s softball team nearly pulled off a pair of dramatic rallies in a doubleheader Thursday evening against No. 1-ranked Texas A&M.
In Game 1, the Tigers took the lead on a grand slam by Madison Walker in the bottom of the sixth. And in Game 2, Missouri tied the score at 3 on a two-out, two-run single by Walker in the bottom of the seventh.
Unfortunately, Texas A&M was able to regain the lead both times and held on to win both games — 7-5 in Game 1 and 4-3 in nine innings in Game 2.
Madison Walker celebrates giving her team the lead with a grand slam home run in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader against Texas A&M. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Trailing 4-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, Mizzou got a leadoff double by senior Julia Crenshaw and a pair of two-out walks by Abby Hay and Stefania Abruscato to set up the dramatic bases-loaded at-bat for Walker.
And on a 1-0 pitch, the sophomore drilled a blast over the right-centerfield wall to give Mizzou a 5-4 lead.
Unfortunately, A&M responded like the No. 1 team in the country should and scored three runs on four hits to re-take the lead.
Mizzou brought the potential tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but wasn’t able to score and lost the game 7-5.
NCAA Softball
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#1 Texas A&M
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Mizzou
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WP: Emiley Kennedy – TXAM (16-3) LP: Taylor Pannell – MIZ (5-6)
A&M led 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth in the nightcap, but that’s when Mizzou went to work again.
First, the Tigers got on the board in the sixth, when Abruscato led off the inning with a double, then scored on a two-out RBI double by Hay.
Then, while trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Mizzou got a pair of runners on with one out, who advanced to second and third with two outs. That’s when Walker came to the plate and lined a single up the middle to score Lenger and Crenshaw to tie the game at 3.
In the top of the ninth though, A&M’s Amari Harper smashed a home run to right to give the Aggies a 4-3 lead, which they were able to hold for the win.
The two losses dropped Mizzou’s season record to 22-26 and its SEC mark to 3-14. A&M is 39-5 overall and 13-3 in the conference.
The teams will conclude their series with a 12 p.m. game at Mizzou Softball Stadium on Friday.
