COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — No. 15 Missouri used a pair of two-run home runs Saturday to claim a 6-3 win against Kansas in the third game of the Columbia Regional of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship.
The Tigers (43-16) now advance to today’s regional championship game at noon.
“Obviously we’re very pleased to being in the winner’s bracket, it’s a difference maker especially when you’re running on two arms,” Missouri coach Ehren Earleywine said. “I’m proud of our girls and I’m looking forward to playing for another regional championship (today).”
Kirsten Mack and Angela Randazzo both connected with two-run blasts in the contest. Randazzo was 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Mackenzie Sykes, Corrin Genoves, Sami Fagan and Emily Crane all had two hits apiece to help lead Missouri at the plate.
“I think we all knew that we all needed to step up as a team,” Randazzo said. “One person can’t carry the whole team. We needed to step up today and we did.”
Mack’s two-run homer gave Missouri a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, and the Tigers didn’t look back from there.
“I personally thought that that was the backbreaker,” Earleywine said. “That was the at-bat that personified the entire game. It gave us two quick runs and I felt the steam come out of them after that happened. We just added on to that.”
Casey Stangel improved to 15-9 on the year, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits, while walking two and striking out one in seven innings.
“I felt like Casey had better command today than she did yesterday,” Earleywine said. “Her velocity looked a little better, too. I had more confidence late in the game today than I did yesterday. The beauty of it is Casey has a very outward personality, she’s very charismatic and outgoing.”
Missouri outhit the Jayhawks (34-22) 13-7, but the Tigers committed three errors, which led to two unearned runs.
“Obviously I’m disappointed with the outcome,” Kansas coach Megan Smith said. “I thought our team fought to the end, which was nice to see. A lot of credit goes to Missouri, a lot of respect to their program and their talent. They played a really good game.”
— Associated Press —