By: Lauren Rosenberg

After a 2-4 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats the night before on April 22, the Missouri Tigers were ready to bounce back and even out the series 1-1. Freshman RHP Parker Conrad got the nod and started for her first ever SEC conference play start and her third start overall this year. For Kentucky, Junior LHP Erin Rethlake was looking for her seventh win on the season. Conrad pitched a decent game for her third start only allowing 3 runs. Madi Norman, who replaced Conrad in the Top of the 6^th, allowed a homerun by Kenucky’s Abbey Cheek on her first pitch.

Rethlake simply outshined both of Mizzou’s pitchers even though she had her faults as well. Throughout the game, she walked five batters and hit one which gave the Tigers a chance to score but the Tigers were unable to capitalize on their opportunities and ended the game scoreless.

For Missouri, Sophomore Regan Nash recorded two hits in the game which gave her 11^th multi-hit game of the season. Redshirt Junior Anna Reed gave Mizzou a spark as well by tallying one hit, the Tiger’s third and final hit of the game. In the bottom of the 7^th inning, Mizzou had the chance to tie up the game with bases loaded and 2 outs. Sophomore Rylee Pierce had the potential to keep Mizzou alive and get the Tigers on the board. Pierce struck out swinging, stranding two, and the Wildcats took game 2 of the series 4-0 despite Mizzou’s late game rally.