What's On
A tough way to finish.
The first and last innings of the series: Michigan 7, Missouri 0
In between: Missouri 7, Michigan 3
ESPNW: Dramatic seventh-inning rally means Oklahoma City for Michigan, uncertainty for Missouri (highlights here)
Had Missouri gone to yet another World Series under Earleywine, surely it would have been more difficult [for Mack Rhoades] to fire him, barring more damning evidence of wrongdoing than is currently known publicly.
"I don't know if 'fair' is the right word," Earleywine said when asked if the school had treated him fairly through this process. "Maybe different [is the right word]. Maybe if things were handled differently. I don't think unfairly is necessarily the right word but maybe just differently. But at the end of the day, they had accusations that they had to investigate, and as I've said before, I know there are things I can do to be better. ...
"They're administrators, and I'm a coach. And that'd be like them telling me I should have bunted in the fifth inning. That's their game, and I trust that their wisdom, their experience is far better than mine in that regard. So I have to go with the fact that they handled it right, just like they have to go with the fact that I coached this game right. That's their forte, this is my forte.
"So my opinion doesn't really matter as far as how the administration handled it."
MUtigers.com: Late #2 Michigan Rally Ends #15 @MizzouSoftball Season
The Trib: MU softball team's season ends in heartbreaking fashion
Afterward, Pierce and Earleywine were left hurting for the team’s three seniors.
"I wish it wouldn’t have gone down like that" in the seventh, "but I’ve been around the game long enough to know that the best team wins," Earleywine said. "So however it was supposed to play out or however it did play out, for me, it doesn’t make a big difference, but I know it’s going to hard for those players to swallow that."
Earleywine, who is 453-154 during his 10 seasons at MU, now will wait his fate. He is the subject of an ongoing university investigation.
"I’m just staying optimistic," said Earleywine, who said he doesn’t know when the investigation will conclude. "I was getting ready to say, ‘and coach my team,’ but the season is over, so I’ll go recruit."
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou softball falls apart as Michigan sweeps super regional
KC Star: Mizzou’s season ends as Michigan rallies to 5-4 victory in softball super regional
PowerMizzou: Diamond decisions
HEY MIZZOU NATION, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!
— Taylor Gadbois (@taylorgadbois) May 29, 2016
Proud to be a Mizzou Tiger Such a great run this season! Excited for the next chapter for the seniors..see you in the NPF @MizzouSoftball
— Chelsea Thomas (@1ChelseaThomas8) May 29, 2016
Humbled to have been able to play along side three of the greatest to ever wear a Mizzou uniform! So proud of this team and our seniors!
— Kirsten Mack (@kmackkk27) May 29, 2016
@PAIGELOWARY pic.twitter.com/Bz1Mh9GfJc
— Paige Lowary (@PAIGELOWARY) May 29, 2016
And now we wait.
Positive vibes, man
Scout.com: A lighter Sheldon Richardson is focused on "positive vibes"
14 seems like a lot
MUtigers.com: @MIZ_TrackField Qualifies 14 Into the NCAA Championships