Kirsten Mack sees a pitch during the regional final against Kansas

Kirsten Mack sees a pitch during the regional final against Kansas

Tigers catcher Kirsten Mack drove in career high five runs on a grand slam and a double to lead the No. 12/13 Mizzou softball team past Kansas and into an NCAA Super Regional with a 7-6 win Sunday at University Field.

Mizzou (42-14) advances to play UCLA next weekend for a spot in the Women’s College World Series.

Tiger sophomore Cheyenne Baxter got the win, giving four runs, all unearned, in 4.2 innings of work. That came after two outs in the sixth.  Freshman P Paige Lowary pitched the final four outs to earn her fourth save of the season.  She was not expected to pitch this weekend as she dealt with illness and a high fever.

Down 2-0 after Kansas scored twice with two outs in the first, Mizzou scored three in the top of the second.  Amanda Sanchez was hit by a pitch and Corrin Genovese drew a walk.  Mack doubled to right center scoring Sanchez and Genovese scored on a bloop single to shallow left by Angela Randazzo. Mack scored on a wild pitch for a 3-2 Mizzou lead.

Mack’s two-out grand slam in the top of the third stretched Missouri’s advantage to 7-2.