COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 8 Tennessee dropped its regular-season finale Saturday afternoon, falling 4-3 to Missouri at Missouri Softball Stadium.
Tennessee (42-9, 16-8 SEC) struck first in the opening inning. After Ella Dodge drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on an Alannah Leach grounder to the right side, Gabby Leach delivered an RBI double to left field to give the Lady Vols a 1-0 lead.
Missouri (28-28, 9-15 SEC) threatened in the second with three hits but left the bases loaded, as Tennessee starting pitcher Erin Nuwer escaped the jam.
The Lady Vols added to their lead in the fourth when Elsa Morrison blasted a leadoff solo home run to left, extending the margin to 2-0.
Missouri answered in the bottom half of the inning, scoring on a wild pitch after putting two runners in scoring position to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Tigers tied the game in the fifth on a solo home run from Abby Hay.
Tennessee regained the lead in the sixth. After a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch moved pinch-runner Zoie Shuler over to third. Sophia Knight then singled to left to plate the go-ahead run, making it 3-2.
Missouri responded again in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on two Tennessee errors. With runners on first and second, Abby Carr singled to right field, where a second defensive miscue allowed two runners to come around and score, giving Mizzou a 4-3 lead.
The Lady Vols were unable to answer in the seventh, as Missouri retired the side in order to secure the win.
Nuwer started and went three innings for the Lady Vols on Saturday. The sophomore allowed one run on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Junior Sage Mardjetko entered in relief, tossing two frames. She finished with one walk and four strikeouts. She allowed one run on one hit.
Karlyn Pickens threw one inning out of the bullpen. She allowed two unearned runs with one strikeout. She suffered the loss and is 13-7 on the year.
DUE UP
The Lady Vols now turn their attention to postseason play. The SEC Tournament begins Tuesday, May 5, at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. Tennessee will learn its tournament seeding later Saturday night.
