Mizzou softball falls to Auburn after late collapse, misses out on NCAA Tournament

Through five innings, Mizzou softball had a 2-0 lead over Auburn and appeared ready to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. But that dream quickly fell back to reality as the opposition piled on six runs in the final two innings. The Tiger offense couldn’t respond as Mizzou fell 6-2 in the opening round of the SEC Tournament, finishing the season at 28-29 and officially missing the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

Cierra Harrison impressed through her first five innings of work, shutting down Auburn with no runs on the board. But she was finally pulled in the top of the six after the visitors led off the inning with a triple that couldn’t be tracked down by Linny Ramsey in left. That runner came around to score on a failed back pick from catcher Stefania Abruscato, cutting the Mizzou lead to one.

Harrison was officially credited with five innings pitched, allowing three hits and one run while walking two and striking out three. She did everything she could in what ended up being her final game as a Tiger. (Editor’s Note: I love CC and this loss was not on her.

) Abby Carr came in to replace her, starting strong with back-to-back strikeouts. But she quickly lost control, allowing a walk and a single to shallow left that moved runners to the corners with two outs. Auburn tied the game on a wild pitch in the dirt that skipped away before taking the lead on a 2-run homer from Haven Roebuck.