With an exciting comeback and suspenseful extra innings, Saturday’s game gave Mizzou softball fans everything they could have wished for… except for a victory.
No. 14 Northwestern defeated No. 18 Mizzou 9-6 during the “Mizzou Classic” matchup. Northwestern’s Rachel Lewis hit a home run straight toward the right field pole to put the Wildcats on the board in the first inning. After their first lackluster offensive possession, the Tigers tied up the game with an RBI by Alex Honnold, her first of two.
But the first two innings paled in comparison to the rest of the game’s thrill.
After a fielding error and two walks dulled Mizzou’s momentum, the Wildcats took advantage. Angela Zedak hit a two RBI single that set up a third score, on a subsequent sacrifice fly, that quieted the gold-clad home crowd.
Northwestern’s hitting went cold, its offense recording three straight scoreless innings. After scoring once in the fourth and then going hitless in the fifth, the Tigers looked to finally take charge in the sixth inning.
After a bizarre, bouncing field error, the bases were loaded, and the home crowd was on its feet. An RBI single by Brooke Wilmes brought the Tigers within one, and, despite the encroaching shade and chilly breeze, the stadium was fired up. Jenna Laird seized the moment with a two RBI single.
Northwestern ended its scoring drought just in time, however, with another homer by Lewis eventually sending the game into extra innings.
Emma Nichols pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, positioning the Tigers for their second chance at a walk-off victory. Honnold and Riley Frizell both struck out, however, ensuring that the Tigers were unable to drive across the winning run. Both Hannold and Fizzell dropped their bats on assumed walks during their at-bats, indicative of both team’s confusion regarding umpire Scott Mair’s strike zone throughout the game.
So, as the afternoon shadows stretched toward the mound, the marathon game wore on, past a scoreless ninth inning.
To speed up the game, as Mizzou’s next opponent, Stanford, watched from the sidelines, Northwestern opened the tenth with a runner on second and quickly loaded up the remaining bases. Nikki Cochran’s RBI single and another two RBI base hit by Zedak broke the tie; the Wildcats led 9-5.
Northwestern’s second pitcher, Danielle Williams, who threw 137 pitches, clinched a win for her team by holding the Tigers to one run in the tenth, sealing a 9-6 Wildcat victory.
The Tigers (18-8) take on Western Illinois at home this Wednesday before tackling Ole Miss on the road next weekend.