No. 7 Softball Advances to Winner-Take-All Regional Final

Sunday, May 19

Columbia, Mo.

1 p.m.

University of Missouri

46-16

Omaha

43-14

Mizzou

Omaha

No. 7 Softball Advances to Winner-Take-All Regional Final

5/19/2024 4:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Final Statistics (PDF)

COLUMBIA, Mo. – It took the No. 7 seeded University of Missouri softball team (46-16) the better part of 16 innings over two games to solve the riddle of Omaha (43-14) pitcher Kamryn Meyer as the Tigers plated five runs in the top of the seventh of an elimination game to defeat the Mavs 5-1 and force a deciding game 7 in the 2024 NCAA Columbia Regional Sunday at Mizzou Softball Stadium.

Mizzou picked up its 1,500-win in program history to become the 15th program in NCAA history to reach the milestone and second SEC school (Texas A&M).

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the seventh, Kara Daly led off the frame with a walk and later advanced to third on a single from pinch hitter Madison Walker. Jenna Laird grounded out to second and plated pinch runner Danielle Blackstun to knot things up at one run apiece.

The Tigers weren't done there as Alex Honnold hammered a no doubter to right-center field to score Blackstun and pinch runner Mya Dodge. Maddie Gallagher and Abby Hay drew back-to-back walks on 3-2 counts and Meyer was lifted for Sydney Nuismer, the first time Omaha went to its bullpen in the Regional. The runners advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch and a Julia Crenshaw single plated both to make the count 5-1 entering the bottom of the frame.

Reliever Taylor Pannell gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh but retired three-straight Mavs to force the winner-take-all Regional final which was set for a 4 p.m., CT first pitch on Sunday.

The first five innings was a pitcher's duel with Omaha breaking through in the top of the sixth after a leadoff double down the left-field line by Marra Cramer ended Laurin Krings' no-hit bid. Krings was lifted for Pannell and Cramer scored on a throwing error after a fly out to right field.

Pannell picked up the win, her fourth, while Krings took a no-decision but continued her strong run in the circle, striking out three and walking three with only the one-hit blemish on her pitching line.

Meyer took the loss, her fifth of the season. She was charged with all five runs, giving up six hits while walking four and striking out one. Meyer had stymied the Tigers in the Regional opener on Friday, giving up a single run on four hits over nine innings where she threw 158 pitches and struck out six.