EUGENE, Ore. – Mizzou Softball (29-28) tallied four unanswered runs to erase a late three-run deficit, but Illinois-Chicago responded with two runs in its final at bat to secure a 5-4 victory.

Through six innings of play, the Tigers were held to one run while only mustering four hits. Coach Earleywine's squad finally came alive in the seventh, posting three runs on four hits. In her final game in Mizzou black and gold, senior Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.) stepped up with a pinch hit RBI single to begin the seventh inning rally.

A pair of Tigers freshmen, Cayla Kessinger (Saugus, Calif.) and Braxton Burnside (Paragould, Ark.), put the squad on top with an RBI double and RBI single, respectively. Kessinger recorded her eighth double of the season, while Burnside tallied her team-leading 52nd RBI this year.

Mizzou's first advantage of the night was quickly in jeopardy in the Flames' at bat in the bottom half of the seventh. UIC opened the frame with consecutive singles and later moved both baserunners into scoring position after a successful sacrifice bunt.

The Flames produced an RBI ground out with one out to even the contest at four apiece. The next batter hit a chopper to shortstop, bounced off the Tiger defender's glove and allowed the game-winning run to cross the plate.

Eight individual Mizzou batters finished with a single hit for the evening. Kessinger's run-producing double in the seventh extended her career-best hitting streak to 10 games. She became the third Tiger this season with a double-digit hitting streak, joining sophomore Regan Nash (Camden Point, Mo.) and Burnside.

2017 Season Highlights

• Mizzou earned its 11th consecutive trip to NCAA Regional play this season.
• Under head coach Ehren Earleywine, the Tigers have made NCAA postseason play each time out.
• This year's NCAA berth also marked Mizzou's 14th NCAA Tournament bid in the past 15 seasons (2003-05, 07-17).
• Despite the two losses this weekend in Eugene, Ore., Mizzou still possess an impressive 29-8 (.784) record in NCAA Regional action under Coach Earleywine.
• Mizzou racked up a slew of impressive wins on the year, including nine nationally ranked top 25 victories, three top 10 RPI triumphs, eight wins over top 25 RPI ballclubs and 12 victories against top 50 RPI teams.
• Senior Kirsten Mack earned 2017 NFCA Third Team Southeast All-Region accolades. She became the 15th all-time NFCA Southeast All-Region honoree for Mizzou since joining the SEC in 2013.
• Burnside and Nash were named to the 2017 SEC Softball awards list. Burnside tallied Freshman All-SEC honors, while Nash garnered Second Team All-SEC accolades.
• Mizzou has now been represented on the Freshman All-SEC Team in four consecutive seasons. Additionally, the Tigers have earned 12 All-SEC honors since joining the conference four years ago.
• Burnside's impressive 2017 awards display also included a top 25 finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year, Week Six Louisville Slugger / NFCA Division I National Player of the Week, Week Six USA Softball Collegiate National Co-Player of the Week and Week Six SEC Freshman of the Week (March 13-19).
• Senior Cheyenne Baxter also produced national accolades after a dominating performance against top 10 Alabama (March 27 – April 2). For her efforts, Baxter was named Week Eight SEC Pitcher of the Week and Week Eight Louisville Slugger / NFCA Division I National Pitcher of the Week.

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