Julia Crenshaw got the only hit of the game for Mizzou in its loss to Oklahoma on Friday evening. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
NCAA Softball
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#1 Oklahoma (28-0, 7-0)
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Mizzou (17-14, 0-4)
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WP: Sam Landry – OU (8-0) LP: Marissa McCann – MIZ (7-5)
Paige Dale Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri women’s softball team suffered an 8-0, five-inning run-rule loss to No. 1-ranked Oklahoma, Friday evening at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.
The Tigers had just one hit in the game, while Oklahoma blasted two home runs and scored three runs on a Mizzou error, on its way to its 28th straight win this season (and 31st straight, dating back to last season).
The Sooners got a three-run homer from Gabbie Garcia in the top of the first; a two-run homer in the fifth from Nelly McEnroe-Marinas; and then scored three runs when a dropped fly ball by Missouri’s Kayley Lenger allowed three OU baserunners to score before the Tiger defense could get the ball back into the infield.
Senior Julia Crenshaw got the only hit of the game for Mizzou — a single in the third inning. The Tigers had two runners on in the fourth and almost tied the game when Madison Uptegrove drilled a pitch way over the right field wall that could’ve been a three-run homer, but it sailed foul. A couple pitches later, Uptegrove flied out to left and ended what was Mizzou’s best scoring chance of the day.
“We had our opportunities with some runners on base that I thought we could have a better quality at bat. And I just don’t think we had competitive bats the whole way through. I think we had nine ground ball outs, and we got to hit the ball a little bit harder,” Missouri head coach Larissa Anderson said. “Tomorrow, we’ve got to come out and we’ve got to be more aggressive. We’ve got to win more pitches. That’s what we talked about in the locker room… If we take one pitch off, they’re going to take advantage of that.”
Missouri’s Marissa McCann makes a pitch during Friday’s matchup against No. 1 Oklahoma at the Mizzou Softball Stadium. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Mizzou sophomore Marissa McCann (7-5) took the loss in the circle. She went 4 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. The two big blows were the home runs by Garcia and McEnroe-Marinas.
“I thought McCann threw well. It was two pitches that got away from her. Both missed their spot, and obviously they hit them out but I thought McCann threw very competitive,” Anderson said. “She did a really good job keeping them off balance. You know, they swung and missed at a lot of them, and that’s good to see. Oklahoma is a very strong offensive team and if they’re swinging and missing, and even some of those rise balls, that’s good to see that she’s having swing and miss movement.”
McCann will likely start Sunday’s series finale, with junior Cierra Harrison most likely making the start for Mizzou on Saturday.
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Mizzou and also dropped the Tigers’ record to 17-14 on the season. But the Tigers will get another chance at the four-time defending national champion Sooners on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
