Columbia, Mo. ? Kara Pierce allowed only one walk in 6 11/43 innings Sunday.
It was a costly one, though.
Missouri 4, Kansas 3
EPierce. LOBKansas 4, Missouri 7. 2BS. Musser 2, C. Musser. SBAllister. SHHansen, McGinnis.
WP Falk. T 1:50. A 330. |
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Missouri’s Ricki Walker drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh inning against Kansas University’s ace. One out later, pinch runner Ingrid Werner scored the winning run on Lindsey Jacoby’s RBI single.
A victory would have given Kansas (31-25 overall, 10-8 Big 12) the third seed in the league tournament this week at Oklahoma City. But Missouri’s 4-3 victory dropped KU to the fourth seed.
The Jayhawks will play fifth-seeded Oklahoma State (25-21, 8-8) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Meanwhile, Nebraska defeated Iowa State 7-0 on Sunday at Lincoln, Neb., to clinch the Big 12 regular season title. The Cornhuskers (47-11, 16-2) will be the top-seeded team, followed by No. 2 Oklahoma (41-7, 14-2) and No. 3 Texas Tech (32-20, 10-8) in the 10-team, double-elimination tournament.
As for Kansas, the Jayhawks rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the top of the seventh Sunday. Pinch hitter Sandy Smith tied the game with a two-out, two-run single. The RBIs were the first of the season for the freshman.
Missouri (30-26, 5-11) answered with Jacoby’s RBI single in the bottom of the inning.
Pierce (21-10) allowed 10 hits and three earned runs while striking out three in the losing effort. Her counterpart, Stephanie Falk (23-19), worked seven innings, surrendering four hits and three earned runs with three strikeouts.
Shelly Musser went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI to lead the KU offense. Christi Musser finished 1-for-2 and scored twice.
Sara Vassmer, Jacoby and Stephanie Falk had two hits each for the Tigers.
The Big 12 softball tournament begins Wednesday at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City with two play-in games. No. 8 Missouri faces No. 9 Texas (24-28, 5-13) with the winner advancing to face Nebraska.
No. 7 Texas A&M (30-17, 7-11) plays No. 10 Iowa State (14-26, 2-12) with the winner advancing to face Oklahoma.
Final Big 12 Conference standings and conference tournament pairings on page 9C.
