Mizzou Softball drops first game of NCAA Regional
You know how the Tigers fell into a funk at the end of the year, losing eight of their last 10 games? Make it nine of 11. Wisconsin scored three runs in the fifth to turn a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 lead, then tacked on a couple more in the seventh to put away a 7-2 win.
Cheyenne Baxter gave up three earned runs (and two unearned) in four innings, and that was that. Mizzou managed just three hits and scored both runs on RBI groundouts.
Mizzou was held to 3 or fewer runs for the 27th time in 57 games. Had three hits against Wisconsin.
— Joe Vozzelli Jr. (@JoeVozzelli) May 20, 2017
Ehren Earleywine said this week that this year would be an anomaly for Mizzou Softball. This year is also almost over. Mizzou plays UI-Chicago in an elimination game tonight at 6:30 pm CT. The Flames got lit up yesterday by Oregon, 13-0.
Mizzou Baseball shuts down Tennessee again
I’m just saying, this would be a spectacular time to rip off another 20-game win streak. The current streak is up to five thanks to a second straight shutout win over Tennessee.
Kirby McGuire hit a two-run homer in the second inning, and that was all Mizzou needed because Cole Bartlett was dealing. He pitched a complete game one-hitter with just 104 pitches, striking out two, walking two, and inducing 13 groundouts. It lowered his ERA to 2.78.
Mizzou goes for the sweep today at 1 pm CT, presumably with Tanner Houck on the mound. The Tigers are up to 34-21, and while RPI will remain an issue — the Tigers were still sitting at 60th heading into this week — a sweep would give them 35 wins and a 14-16 conference record. Those things usually get an SEC team into the NCAA Tourney field. (SEC teams usually don’t have this bland a non-conference, and the SEC as a whole is usually a little better, but go with me.) At worst, Mizzou has played its way back onto the bubble over the last week.
Today’s game could also have seeding consequences for the SEC tournament:
If #Mizzou Baseball gets the 10th seed, they play Tuesday at 1:00p CT against the 7th seed.
— Matt Michaels (@KTGRMatt) May 20, 2017
If they get the 9th they play the 8 seed @ 4:30