LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 24/25 University of Missouri softball (19-13, 0-5 SEC) fell by a score of 11-7 on the road at rival Kansas (11-18, 0-3 Big 12). The Jayhawks scored four runs in both the first and the third innings before adding three key insurance runs to keep the Tigers at bay.
Mizzou had runners on the corners in the top of the first with one out after Jenna Laird was hit by a pitch and Kendyll Bailey singled. However, a double play ended the threat.
Kansas got on the board right away in the first inning after back-to-back walks were followed by an RBI single to right, scoring one. A double to left center made it 3-0 after two runs came around to score. After a wild pitch moved the runner to third, a sacrifice fly made it 4-0 after the first.
The Tigers responded in the top of the third. After Jenna Laird walked, Brooke Wilmes singled to second base to put two runners on with one out. Kendyll Bailey then knocked a double down the right field line to bring home Laird. With two outs in the inning, Daly grounded a ball to the shortstop, but her errant throw allowed a second run to score. Alex Honnold then grounded a ball to first, but another error allowed both Bailey and Daly to score, tying the game at four runs apiece.
The Jayhawks answered right back in the bottom of the third. With one out, back-to-back singles were followed by a double to left center, making it 5-4 for Kansas. The next batter crushed a three-run homer over the left field wall for an 8-4 lead.
Two more runs scored for Kansas in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two-outs and a runner on second, a single through the left side brought one run to the plated and the errant throw hit the backstop and rolled up the first base line, allowing the batter to come all the way around to score, making it 10-4.
In the top of the fifth, Kara Daly led off the inning with a single through the left side. After reaching second on a wild pitch, Alex Honnold singled up the middle to bring her in. Honnold reached second on the throw home. Gabi Deters' single back up the middle brought Honnold to the plate, making it 10-6. Maddie Snider reached on an error by the first baseman, putting runners at the corners with one out. Jenna Laird grounded a ball back up the middle that was stopped right next to the bag by the shortstop with a diving effort. The shortstop was able to tag second for a fielder's choice, but Deters was able to score from third. The Tigers cut the lead to 10-7 midway through the fifth.
Megan Schumacher stranded two runners on base in the bottom half of the inning to keep the deficit at three.
The Tigers could not muster any more offense in the sixth after a Kimberly Wert single.
A sacrifice fly gave the host Jayhawks an insurance run heading into the seventh inning. The Tigers were unable to make up the four-run difference.
NOTES
Kendyll Bailey recorded her eighth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Bailey had 12 multi-hit games in her first four seasons combined.
Bailey has reached base safely in each of the last eight games.
Jenna Laird reached base three times out of the leadoff spot while going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Laird singled, walked and she was hit by a pitch.
Brooke Wilmes moved into fourth in program history with the 187th run of her career.
The Tigers allowed double-digit runs for the second time on the year.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will return home to face off with South Carolina in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 6:30 p.m.at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
Mizzou had runners on the corners in the top of the first with one out after Jenna Laird was hit by a pitch and Kendyll Bailey singled. However, a double play ended the threat.
Kansas got on the board right away in the first inning after back-to-back walks were followed by an RBI single to right, scoring one. A double to left center made it 3-0 after two runs came around to score. After a wild pitch moved the runner to third, a sacrifice fly made it 4-0 after the first.
The Tigers responded in the top of the third. After Jenna Laird walked, Brooke Wilmes singled to second base to put two runners on with one out. Kendyll Bailey then knocked a double down the right field line to bring home Laird. With two outs in the inning, Daly grounded a ball to the shortstop, but her errant throw allowed a second run to score. Alex Honnold then grounded a ball to first, but another error allowed both Bailey and Daly to score, tying the game at four runs apiece.
The Jayhawks answered right back in the bottom of the third. With one out, back-to-back singles were followed by a double to left center, making it 5-4 for Kansas. The next batter crushed a three-run homer over the left field wall for an 8-4 lead.
Two more runs scored for Kansas in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two-outs and a runner on second, a single through the left side brought one run to the plated and the errant throw hit the backstop and rolled up the first base line, allowing the batter to come all the way around to score, making it 10-4.
In the top of the fifth, Kara Daly led off the inning with a single through the left side. After reaching second on a wild pitch, Alex Honnold singled up the middle to bring her in. Honnold reached second on the throw home. Gabi Deters' single back up the middle brought Honnold to the plate, making it 10-6. Maddie Snider reached on an error by the first baseman, putting runners at the corners with one out. Jenna Laird grounded a ball back up the middle that was stopped right next to the bag by the shortstop with a diving effort. The shortstop was able to tag second for a fielder's choice, but Deters was able to score from third. The Tigers cut the lead to 10-7 midway through the fifth.
Megan Schumacher stranded two runners on base in the bottom half of the inning to keep the deficit at three.
The Tigers could not muster any more offense in the sixth after a Kimberly Wert single.
A sacrifice fly gave the host Jayhawks an insurance run heading into the seventh inning. The Tigers were unable to make up the four-run difference.
NOTES
Kendyll Bailey recorded her eighth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Bailey had 12 multi-hit games in her first four seasons combined.
Bailey has reached base safely in each of the last eight games.
Jenna Laird reached base three times out of the leadoff spot while going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Laird singled, walked and she was hit by a pitch.
Brooke Wilmes moved into fourth in program history with the 187th run of her career.
The Tigers allowed double-digit runs for the second time on the year.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will return home to face off with South Carolina in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 6:30 p.m.at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
