COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Softball (32-22, 12-12) failed to complete the weekend sweep of No. 16 South Carolina (36-16, 9-14), falling, 5-2, on Senior Day at Mizzou Softball stadium. Mizzou seniors Madi Norman, Kolby Romaine, Regan Nash, Raime Cohen and Cosette Tomita were all honored on the field before the game in front of a large Mizzou crowd. Shortly after the Tigers concluded Senior Day ceremonies, South Carolina continued their weekend trend of scoring early, posting a four-run first inning. Mizzou pulled within striking distance thanks to a two-run single by CF Brooke Wilmes in the bottom of the fourth. However, Mizzou was unable to make the most of a number of additional scoring chances, failing to complete the third straight comeback of the weekend. Mizzou was held to a 2-for-12 clip with runners in scoring position.

Despite the loss, the Tigers took the final regular season series after walk-off wins on both Friday and Saturday. Mizzou wraps up the regular season with a 32-22 overall record, its best since recording a 42-16 mark in 2016. Mizzou has now recorded 16 seasons with more than 30 wins since 2000. Mizzou also compiled a 12-12 record in SEC play, its best mark since going 14-10 in 2016. This season marks the fourth time that the Tigers have recorded a .500 record or better in SEC play since joining the conference prior to the 2013 season. Finally, Mizzou was able to compile a 16-18 record against RPI top 50 teams, showing it could compete on a consistent basis with the best teams in the country.

TOP TIGERS

• After crushing a walk-off home run yesterday, Wilmes went 2-for-4 at the dish and knocked in a pair of runs. Wilmes finished the weekend with a 7-for-12 mark at the plate while knocking in a total of three runs and collecting a pair of doubles.
• Mizzou 3B Kim Wert made a handful of web gems at the hot corner on Sunday afternoon, stealing at least a pair of hits from the Gamecocks. Wert also collected a hit in the loss, giving her base knocks in each of the three games of the series.
• Mizzou pitcher Eli Daniel held the Gamecocks offense in check after entering in the fifth inning. Daniel ended up working 2.2 scoreless innings while allowing only one hit and striking out one.

TURNING POINT

After Mizzou got on the board thanks to a Wilmes two-run double in the bottom of the fourth, South Carolina had the opportunity to kill the Tigers' momentum. The Gamecocks' first four batters reached base to begin the top of the fifth inning and pushed across a run on an RBI single, making the score 5-2. While Daniel entered and avoided any further damage, the crucial run allowed South Carolina to keep the Tigers at bay and stifle Mizzou's attempt at a third straight comeback.

QUOTEABLES

"We can play against and beat anyone in the conference," Wilmes said. "And we have shown that. We are going to take this thing a game at a time, but we truly believe we can win it all."

UP NEXT

After finishing the regular season, Mizzou will travel to College Station, Texas, for the 2019 SEC Tournament which begins on Wednesday.

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