Missouri Wins In Dramatic Fashion, Downs Hawkeyes 5-4

May 18, 2008

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IOWA CITY – For the second time in three days, the Missouri Tigers came from behind and beat the Iowa Hawkeyes in walk-off fashion, winning 5-4. Julie Silver tied the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly and three batters later, Andee Allen singled home the winning run to move the Tigers into the NCAA Super Regionals. Missouri beat Iowa 3-2 Friday on a walk-off home run by Lindsey Ubrun.

The Hawkeyes were one out away from elimination, but got some late-inning fireworks to make things interesting. Trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh, Iowa freshman Chelsey Carmody smacked the first pitch she saw from Missouri starter Stacy Delaney over the right field wall for a three-run home run to give the Hawkeyes a 4-3 lead. It was Carmody’s first career home run. The home run plated senior Emily Nichols, who singled, and freshman pinch-hitter Lindsey Major, who tallied a double. All of Iowa’s hits in the frame came with two outs.

Missouri (47-15) struck first early in the bottom of the first off Iowa starter Brittany Weil. Allen hit a sharp grounder to Iowa shortstop Erin Riemersma, who made a nice backhand stop but had no play at any base, allowing Rhea Taylor to score to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. The Tigers got two more runs on an error by Summer Downs, who appeared to make contact with Ubrun as she tried to make the catch along the third base line. After a brief dispute by Iowa Head Coach Gayle Blevins, the umpires ruled there was no interference and the play stood, increasing Missouri’s lead to 3-0.

The Hawkeyes (42-20) got on the board in the top of the second on an RBI double by Nichols. After a single by Quinn Morelock, Blevins called a hit-and-run with Nichols at the plate, and the Hawkeyes ran the play to perfection. Nichols lined the ball over Taylor’s head in center field, allowing Morelock to score from first, getting the Hawkeyes on the board with the score 3-1.

Until the seventh, the Hawkeyes could not get much offense going against Delaney (20-3), who held the Hawkeyes to four runs on eight hits, while striking out five. She was opposed by Weil (28-15), who pitched every inning over the weekend for the Hawkeyes. Against Missouri Sunday, Weil pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits, while striking out four.

With the win, Missouri advances to play third-seeded Alabama in next weekend’s NCAA Super Regional.

The Hawkeyes end their 2008 season with a record of 42-20, including appearances in both the Big Ten Tournament final and the NCAA Regional final. Iowa finished with a record of 13-4 at Pearl Field during the season.

IOWA            010  000  3 4 8 1MISSOURI        300  000  2 5 6 1

WP: Stacy Delaney (20-3)
LP: Brittany Weil (28-15)