The Missouri softball team’s NCAA regional appearance opened with a mercy-rule loss. The Tigers, the No. 2 seed in the Norman, Okla., regional, fell 9-1 to No. 3 seed Tulsa in just five innings, as an eight-run difference after five innings ends a game.
Tulsa (34-23) did all of its damage in the third and fourth innings. The Golden Hurricane scored five runs in the top of the third and added four more in the next inning.
Mizzou (28-28) starter Lauren Rice pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed five earned runs on six hits. She struck out just one batter.