UPDATE, 10:21pm - Baylor and Mizzou played twice today. My bad. Post updated.
Mizzou Softball 6, Oklahoma State 1
Megan Christopher hit a 2-run homer, Rhea Taylor went 3-for-4, Kristin Nottelman was dominant again, and Mizzou's now 36-5, 8-2 in conference. Here are the current Big 12 Standings:
- Missouri 8-2
- Baylor 8-3
- Oklahoma 8-4
- Texas 7-4
Mizzou's got two games at Texas Tech (2-9 in conference) next weekend, followed by three home series to end conference play--two games against Iowa State (1-7), two against Oklahoma (8-4) and two against Nebraska (5-5). With six of eight remaining games at home and only two against a team with a winning conference record, Mizzou's got a very good chance to win the conference.
Mizzou scored two in the eighth to tie the game up, but Johnny Wholestaff couldn't keep the magic going in extra innings, as Baylor used a walk, infield single, bunt single and single to left to score in the 11th and even up the series. A win in this one would have brought Mizzou back to 7-7 in conference and 18-17 overall, but alas...not to be.
No need to dwell too much on this one. Mizzou had more errors than hits. It was really bad for Mizzou, and really bad for Nick Tepesch's ERA.
Rachel Phelps Watch: Mizzou has to go about 17-7 the rest of the way to put themselves in position to make the NCAA Tourney again. If they can go 7-1 in their eight games against Indiana State, Eastern Illinois, SMS, and CS-Bakersfield (far from a given--midweek games bite you sometimes), that leaves them to go 10-6 in five series against K-State in Manhattan (7-5 in conference), Texas Tech at home (7-8), Nebraska in Lincoln (4-11), Kansas at home and at Kaufmann Stadium (6-5) and their three guaranteed games in the Big 12 Tournament. Not impossible, but consistency must come at some point this season...any time now...