NORMAN, Okla. -- The Missouri Tigers’ season came to an end with two losses Saturday in the Norman, Okla., NCAA Tournament softball regional.
Missouri started the day facing No. 1 Oklahoma, which continued a near-undefeated season with an 11-0 win in six innings. With the win, Oklahoma (53-1) moves into the regional championship at 1 p.m. today.
The Sooners scored two runs in the second, three in the third, two more in the fifth and added four in the sixth to hit the run rule.
Missouri collected only one hit against Oklahoma with Kara Daly singling in the fourth.
Laurin Krings pitched four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks, and struck out two. Megan Schumacher came on in relief, throwing 1⅓ innings and allowing four runs on three hits and a walk. Emma Nichols then pitched one-third of an inning and gave up one run on one hit before Taylor Pannell pitched the final one third with a strikeout.
The loss moved Missouri to an elimination game against California, which Missouri had beat 5-1 in the Tigers’ opening regional game.
The second outcome went the other way, with the Golden Bears winning 7-5.
California jumped ahead with a run in the second, three in the fourth and one each in the fourth, fifth and seventh. The Tigers scored three in the fourth and two in the seventh.
In the fourth, Missouri got back-to-back-to-back home runs from Maddie Gallagher, Megan Moll and Payton Jackson.
Then in the seventh, Jackson singled and stole second before Jenna Laird singled and Alex Honnold walked to load the bases for Daly. Daly singled to center, scoring Maddie Snider, but Honnold was caught between second and third when Laird stayed on the bag instead of advancing home.
Laird then scored during the rundown to tag out Honnold diving back to the bag at second.
Jordan Weber pitched the first three innings for Missouri, striking out two and allowing four runs on four hits and three walks. Cierra Harrison came on for the next 1⅔, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out one. Taylor Pannell pitched the final 2⅓ innings and allowed one run on three hits and one walk, while striking out three.
Missouri ends the season with a record of 35-26.