COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri softball team (21-16, 1-10 SEC) could not overcome No. 17/13 Alabama (26-10, 4-4 SEC) in a pitcher's duel Saturday night at the Mizzou Softball Stadium, dropping the nine-inning battle, 4-0.
For eight innings, Laurin Krings went toe-to-toe with Alabama's Montana Fouts in a scoreless draw, as both hurlers prevented their opponent from crossing the plate through the eighth.
However, a leadoff home run from Alabama's Ashley Prange to start the top of the ninth gave the Crimson Tide the lead for good. From there, Alabama notched three insurance runs to finish the contest.
Krings, a junior from Loveland, Colorado, kept the Tigers in the game into extra innings by throwing 129 pitches. Krings struck out five Crimson Tide batters in a career-best 8.2 innings.
In the top of the first, Alabama got runners aboard with one out before Krings induced an Ally Shipman flyout with a heads-up defensive play from Payton Jackson to catch Kali Heivilin leaving early from second base for a double play to get out of the inning.
In the sixth inning, Alabama once again had two on with one out. Krings retired the next two batters by punching out Bailey Dowling and coaxing a fielder's choice from Shipman to retire the side unscathed.
Next time up, the Crimson Tide knocked a leadoff single before the Tigers turned a double play to eliminate a threat in the seventh.
Mizzou's offense pieced together rallies in an attempt to score first, but could not capitalize with runners on base. Starting in the fourth inning, the Tigers worked their way on base in each of the next five innings, but could never get past second base.
In the seventh inning, the Tigers positioned themselves for a walk-off win with two runners on and just one out. However, Fouts retired the next two batters to send the game into extra innings.
For a second-consecutive game, Fouts pitched a complete-game shutout for the Crimson Tide, yielding just five hits while picking up 14 strikeouts (26 strikeouts over the weekend series).
Her pitching efforts held off Mizzou and allowed for Alabama to break through for four runs in the ninth. Prange's home run was followed by a two-run double from Kenleigh Cahalan and an RBI single from Dowling to secure the series for the Crimson Tide.
NOTES
For eight innings, Laurin Krings went toe-to-toe with Alabama's Montana Fouts in a scoreless draw, as both hurlers prevented their opponent from crossing the plate through the eighth.
However, a leadoff home run from Alabama's Ashley Prange to start the top of the ninth gave the Crimson Tide the lead for good. From there, Alabama notched three insurance runs to finish the contest.
Krings, a junior from Loveland, Colorado, kept the Tigers in the game into extra innings by throwing 129 pitches. Krings struck out five Crimson Tide batters in a career-best 8.2 innings.
In the top of the first, Alabama got runners aboard with one out before Krings induced an Ally Shipman flyout with a heads-up defensive play from Payton Jackson to catch Kali Heivilin leaving early from second base for a double play to get out of the inning.
In the sixth inning, Alabama once again had two on with one out. Krings retired the next two batters by punching out Bailey Dowling and coaxing a fielder's choice from Shipman to retire the side unscathed.
Next time up, the Crimson Tide knocked a leadoff single before the Tigers turned a double play to eliminate a threat in the seventh.
Mizzou's offense pieced together rallies in an attempt to score first, but could not capitalize with runners on base. Starting in the fourth inning, the Tigers worked their way on base in each of the next five innings, but could never get past second base.
In the seventh inning, the Tigers positioned themselves for a walk-off win with two runners on and just one out. However, Fouts retired the next two batters to send the game into extra innings.
For a second-consecutive game, Fouts pitched a complete-game shutout for the Crimson Tide, yielding just five hits while picking up 14 strikeouts (26 strikeouts over the weekend series).
Her pitching efforts held off Mizzou and allowed for Alabama to break through for four runs in the ninth. Prange's home run was followed by a two-run double from Kenleigh Cahalan and an RBI single from Dowling to secure the series for the Crimson Tide.
NOTES
- With a valiant 8.2-inning effort, Laurin Krings set the longest appearance of her collegiate career.
- Laurin Krings notched six punchouts, marking the ninth time this season in which she's sat down five or more hitters in a contest. All nine of those contests have come within her last 10 starts.
- The Tigers' righty continued her climb toward 400 career strikeouts. She now sits 10th in program history with 383 Ks.
- Jenna Laird, Julia Crenshaw, Megan Moll, Maddie Gallagher and Vanessa Hollingsworth each notched a hit.
- Julia Crenshaw and Alex Honnold both recorded a walk.
- Julia Crenshaw has now reached base in each of the last three games.
- 3,021 fans packed Mizzou Softball Stadium for Saturday night's action, the most spectators to attend a Mizzou softball game this season, home or away.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will close out their weekend series against Alabama Sunday afternoon at the Mizzou Softball Stadium. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m., CT. Sunday's game will be on SEC Network+ with Nate Gatter and Noah Reed on the call.
Sunday is Family Funday Sunday with a postgame egg hunt, autographs and running of the bases.
