The Missouri Tigers returned home to Mizzou Softball Stadium on Wednesday to take on the Southeast Missouri Redhawks. On paper, the matchup seemed like it should have been an easy victory for the No. 11 ranked Tigers. In the home series before the Redhawks came to Columbia, Mizzou took two of three from the No. 3 ranked LSU Tigers. Instead of an easy victory, SEMO stunned the Tigers, shutting them out and winning 1-0.
Wednesday’s loss dropped the Tigers to 29-8 on the season, and helped out SEMO, moving them to 13-20.
The Redhawks went 5-26 at the dish, registering a .192 batting average, but what they lacked at the plate was made up for in large part by the efforts of senior pitcher Paytience Holman. Holman pitched a complete game for SEMO and shutout Mizzou, a team averaging just under six runs a game on the season. Through Holman’s seven innings in the circle, she only allowed three hits, none for extra bases, struck out three, walked one, and hit two batters. Holman found herself in jams with runners in scoring position in the first and third innings, butwas able to work out of both. After navigating through a tricky first three innings, Holman didn’t allow a single Missouribase runner in the final four innings of the game.
The third inning was pivotal in the outcome of the game.
After Mizzou starting pitcher Laurin Krings worked out of a jam with runners on second and third in the top half of the inning, it seemed like it was time for Mizzou to capitalize on the offensive end. Mizzou loaded the bases with only one out. Katie Chester stepped up to the plate with the possibility of plating Kayley Lenger from third and Jenna Laird from second. Holman worked Chester to a 1-2 count, and then caught Chester looking for strike three. SEMO still had to find one more out to escape the bases-loaded jam. Sydney Dennis answered the call for the Redhawks as she tracked down a Mya Dodge pop fly from her shortstop position into shallow center field.
After gaining the momentum, the Redhawks looked to capitalize when they stepped in the batter’s box in the top of the fourth. SEMO got some assistance when Zoe Schulte led off the inning by reaching first via an error by Mizzou first baseman Abby Hay. Hay was trying to tag Schulte out as she ran down the first baseline, but when she made the tag the ball popped out of her glove. Kynzie Wrigley moved Schulte over to second with a sacrifice bunt, but it seemed like the Tigers were going to get out of the inning after Dennis flew out to Dodge in left field, and Schulte had to stay put at second. That was when Brittany Affolter stepped into the box and doubled to left field, bringing in Schulte and giving the Redhawks a 1-0 lead.
The Redhawks lead would hold, in big part thanks to their defense. SEMO center fielder Paige Halliwill put out seven Tigers throughout the game. Another player that helped the Redhawks on defense was the shortstop Dennis. Dennis tracked down the pop fly to end the bases loaded threat in the third, but she also pulled in a line drive by Chester in the bottom of the sixth.
Mizzou was a combined 3-23 (.130) Wednesday. The Tigers are batting .302 as a team on the season, so the outing was out of character. None of the Tigers’ three hits came with runners in scoring position.
Mizzou will look to buck their offensive woes on Friday when they travel to Fayetteville to take on the No. 14 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. SEMO is back in action on Saturday as they host Tennessee Tech.