Columbia, Mo. ? Junior Nettie Fierros hit a three-run homer, and Kansas University upended No. 18 Missouri, 5-3, in softball Wednesday night at University Field.
The Tigers (31-7 overall, 5-4 Big 12 Conference) took a 1-0 lead in their first at-bat.
But the Jayhawks (18-16, 2-5) stormed back, going up 3-1 in the top of the second on Fierros’ blast, her third of the season. Destiny Frankenstein and Elle Pottorf opened the inning with hits before Fierros took the first pitch she saw over the center-field fence.
Leading 3-2, KU’s Christina Ross came in to relieve Serena Settlemier in the bottom of the fourth and gave up just two hits in the last four innings.
KU added insurance runs in the top of the fifth, scoring twice off two hits. Fierros coaxed a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Frazer. Heather Stanley singled to right — moving Fierros to third — and stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
Jessica Moppin singled to score Fierros, and Elle Pottorf was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to bring home Stanley.
MU again answered in the bottom of the seventh on pinch hitter Jen Bruck’s homer, but Ross retired the final batter for the save.
Settlemier (9-6) struck out four, allowed two hits and walked one in the first three innings for the win. Ross gave up two hits, struck out one and walked one. The Jayhawk offense recorded six hits off Erin Kalka (4-4) in the first 4.1 innings. MU’s Erica Peterson allowed no hits and struck out four to finish the game.
The Jayhawks will travel today to Springfield, Mo., for a single game at 3 p.m. against Southwest Missouri State.
