#18 @MizzouSoftball Drops Series Finale at #12 Kentucky, 3-2

Sunday, April 17

Lexington, Ky.

11:00 AM

University of Missouri

29-12, 0

#12 Kentucky

37-9, 0

Missouri

Kentucky

#18 @MizzouSoftball Drops Series Finale at #12 Kentucky, 3-2

4/17/2016 1:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Tigers leave 11 runners on base in close loss

LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 18 Mizzou Softball (29-12, 6-9 SEC) fell in its Southeastern Conference series finale on Sunday at No. 12 Kentucky, 3-2. The Tigers let a pair of one-run leads slip away, as the Wildcats claimed its first advantage of the game in the sixth inning.

Mizzou's offense fared well against reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week, Kelsey Nunley, for the second time this weekend. The Tigers tallied three runs on Nunley Friday evening and added two more runs Sunday afternoon. Mizzou posted eight hits against the Wildcats right-hander but struggled in crunch time situations.

The Tigers reached the scoreboard first in all three games this weekend. Freshman Regan Nash (Camden Point, Mo.) tallied an RBI single in the second inning to kick off the day's scoring. Kentucky answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run.

Senior Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) put Mizzou back on top in the fourth inning with her team-leading 13th home run of the year. The solo shot came on a two-strike, two-out pitch from the Wildcats hurler. Similar to the second inning, Kentucky had a quick answer in the bottom half of the fourth as it once again tied the ballgame.

The Tigers' bats went silent in the fifth and sixth inning as both starting pitchers got in a groove. Kentucky's three-hole hitter gave the home team its first lead of the game in the sixth inning following her third home run of the series.

Mizzou had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the seventh, as the first two batters reached via singles. A line out and pop up gave Kentucky two outs as it maintained its slim one-run advantage. The Tigers nearly evened the score with two outs as a bouncer up the middle looked destined to center field for a single. However, the ball was snagged at the last second by Kentucky's starting pitcher and she made a game-ending 1-3 put out.

Redshirt senior Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) and junior Chloe Rathburn (Mission Viejo, Calif.) each tallied multi-hit games despite the loss. It marked Fagan's 16th multi-hit game of the year and Rathburn's 14th multi-hit effort.

KEY MOMENT

Mizzou had endless opportunities to strengthen its lead on Sunday but couldn't come through with a big hit. Following Nash's RBI base hit in the second inning, a Kentucky error saw Mizzou with the bases loaded and one out. A fielder's choice and ground out by the Tigers nullified the potential of a big frame at the plate.

TOP TIGERS

Crane: 1-for-2, HR, RBI, 2 SB
Rathburn: 2-for-2, BB
Lowary: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 K

UP NEXT

Mizzou travels to Iowa on Tuesday, April 19, for another mid-week doubleheader. Game one in Iowa City, Iowa, is set for 3 p.m. (CT) first pitch. Game two is tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT) first pitch.

Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Softball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (University of Missouri Softball Team) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouSoftball).