COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Softball (31-21, 11-11) came back to knock off No. 16 South Carolina (35-15, 8-13), 4-3, winning on a walk-off single from senior 1B Kolby Romaine. The Tigers overcame an early deficit and wet conditions at Mizzou Softball Stadium on Friday night, scoring four unanswered runs to win in thrilling fashion. While the offense chipped away at South Carolina's early lead, redshirt senior SP Madi Norman quietly stifled the Gamecocks. Norman collected a career-high 10 strikeouts while allowing just one baserunner during the game's final four innings.
Meanwhile, sophomore 3B Kimberly Wert and Romaine spearheaded the Mizzou comeback. Mizzou's offense was constantly putting pressure on the Gamecock's pitching staff, putting the leadoff batter on base in all seven innings. Wert, who reached base three times, scored the game's tying run on a Romaine triple in the bottom of the fifth. Lightning struck twice when Wert walked to lead-off the bottom of the seventh and Romaine sent her home with a line drive into the right-centerfield gap. Mizzou collected its first true walk-off victory since defeating then-No. 8 Georgia, 8-7, on March 17.
TOP TIGERS
- Romaine had a career-night, going 2-for-4 at the dish. The Chino Hills, Calif. native collected her first-career triple and also capped the ballgame with a walk-off single to give Mizzou the victory.
- Norman worked around three Gamecocks home runs to keep Mizzou within striking distance. Norman worked 7.0 innings and allowed three runs on four hits while totaling a career-high 10 strikeouts. Norman has now totaled six or more strikeouts in five of her last seven starts.
- Mizzou RF Callie Martin collected a pair of hits. It was the first occasion in conference play that she collected multiple hits in a ballgame.
- Mizzou DP Kara Decker posted a pair of hits, including an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning that pulled Mizzou within a run. Decker has now knocked in runs in back-to-back games.
TURNING POINT
With Mizzou trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, sophomore C Hatti Moore drew a leadoff walk before Wert sent a line drive down the left field line. As Wert pulled into second base, Moore rounded third and attempted to score but was thrown out by a perfect Gamecock relay. Two batters later, Romaine sent a line drive to the right field wall, scoring Wert to tie the game. Romaine ended up at third with her first triple of her career.
After the Tigers failed to convert offensively in the bottom of the sixth, Norman headed back to the circle to start the seventh. After picking up a pair of quick outs, Norman went right after South Carolina 3B Jana Johns, who had already homered twice in the ballgame. With two strikes, Norman blew a fastball right past Johns to end the inning.
To start the bottom of the seventh, Wert drew a leadoff walk to put the potential winning run on base. Two batters later, Romaine stepped to the dish and lined the second pitch of the at bat into the right-centerfield gap. Wert rounded third and was sent home, sliding in before a late relay throw, giving Mizzou the thrilling walk-off victory.
QUOTEABLES
"We are never out of a game," Coach Anderson said. "We had every reason to fold tonight, but we didn't. Hatti gets thrown out, and we fought back. Brooke gets tagged, and we fought back. The belief is so important, and we showed just how far we have come tonight."
UP NEXT
Mizzou continues its three-game series with game two against South Carolina tomorrow. The game is set to begin at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
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).
