NCAA Softball Tourney: Jayhawks Fall to MU

The inability to pick up the timely hit finally came back to hurt the Jayhawks Saturday afternoon in the Columbia Regional of the NCAA Softball Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Columbia, MO.

KU loaded the bases in the second and third innings, failing to score both times, and fell to Missouruh, 5-3.

The two teams exchanged two-run home runs in the first inning before KU took a 3-2 lead in the third inning with yet another home run.  KU maintained that lead until the 5th inning, when MU finally broke through for three more of their own.  Kansas put two runners on in the top of the 7th inning, bringing the lead run to the plate, but once again could not get the big hit to sustain the rally.

The Jayhawks stranded 10 runners in the game.

SP Alicia Pille (6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) went the distance for the Jayhawks, holding MU to three hits in the first four innings before the disastrous fifth.  KU was led offensively by 3B Chanin Naudin (3/3, 2 RBI, BB, HR).

KU will get the winner of Indiana State vs Louisville later this evening.  Should the Jayhawks prevail this evening, they will play Missouruh again on Sunday at Noon Jayhawk time.  Should they lose again tonight, they'll head back to Lawrence with the season concluded.

All games of the regional are being televised ESPN3, or you can listen online to the radio broadcast at kuathletics.com/radio.