Ashtin Stephens (1) is congratulated by Corrin Genovese after scoring the go-ahead run for the Tigers (photo/Mizzou athletics)
One thing is true about an Ehren Earleywine coached softball team. They’re not going to quit and when their backs are against the wall, they come back fighting even harder. In a game that was being billed as a pitcher’s duel, it turned into a slugfest.
13th ranked Missouri responded from a one-run deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to knock over 6th ranked Alabama 8-6 in Columbia on Thursday night.
Missouri’s ace pitcher Tori Finucane gave up a grand slam in the fifth that wiped away a 5-2 lead, but the offense came back against Bama ace Jaclyn Traina. Corrin Genovese led off the inning with a walk and a Kelsea Roth singled. Freshman Natalie Fleming lined a two-RBI double to left center field and pinch runner Ashtin Stephens Stephens got in under the tag to make it a 7-6 lead for the Tigers. Mizzou added another run, giving Finucane a two-run edge.
The freshman worked herself out of a jam in the seventh. Finucane held Bama scoreless in the seventh after the first two runners reached base.
This series will decide seeding in the SEC Tournament. The second game of the series is slated for Friday at 6:30 p.m., with the series finale and Senior Day on Saturday at 1 p.m. with coverage on ESPNU.
