COLUMBIA - The Missouri Tigers lost in last year's regional round for the first time in seven seasons.
They didn't want to experience that feeling again.
"After losing last year, it made me appreciate winning a regional," Missouri coach Ehren Earleywine said after the Tigers held off the Kansas Jayhawks 7-6 to capture the title at University Field. "It felt easy there for a while. Last year woke me up. I'm extremely grateful and really proud of my team."
But it wasn't easy. Missouri trailed 2-0 after one inning before rallying with three runs in the second and four in the third to take a 7-2 advantage.
But Kansas, the home team on the scoreboard, scored four times in the bottom of the sixth to cut its deficit to one. In the bottom of the seventh, the Jayhawks drew a one-out walk before the Tigers retired the next two batters for the victory.
"What a game," Kansas coach Megan Smith said. "It was a fun game to be a part of. We were excited to still be here on Sunday and playing Mizzou again. I felt like we attacked early, and we fought until the end. That's what our team has done all season.
"It was fun to watch them play today. We fought and always believed that we could come back."
With the win, 10th-seeded Missouri (42-14) advances to next weekend's Super Regional at seventh-seeded UCLA (48-10). The Bruins hit four home runs Sunday in an 8-0 win in six innings against San Diego State to win its region.
"It'll be an enormous challenge," Earleywine said. "They do everything well. They have the Player of the Year in the Pac 12 (senior Ally Carda) in the circle. They're hitting .370 as a team. They play great defense. We're at their place, but we've done it before and we can do it again."
A home run was a key blow Sunday for Missouri as well. Kirsten Mack hit a grand slam to account for Missouri's runs in the third inning.
"They threw pitches to me away from the plate during my first at-bat, so we talked about it and anticipated them coming in on me," Mack said. "She threw a few in and I took a half step off the plate from where I usually stand and tried to get my hands inside of the pitch.
"If I can do that, I feel confidence in what I can do."
Mack doubled in Missouri's first run in the second inning. Angela Randazzo had an RBI single in the inning as well, with the third run coming home on a wild pitch.
Mack, who now has 15 home runs this season, and Randazzo had two hits each in an eight-hit Missouri attack.
Cheyenne Baxter was the winner in relief. she pitched 42/3 innings, giving up four unearned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three. Paige Lowary worked the final 11/3 to get the save, her fourth of the season. Tori Finucane allowed two runs on three hits and four walks in one inning to start the game.
Kansas ends its season at 40-15.
The Super Regional will be played Saturday and Sunday in Los Angeles.