The Missouri softball team dropped the opening game of its best-of-three Super Regional series with national No. 3 seed Alabama 6-1 Friday at the Alabama Softball Complex in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Tigers did not get a hit off Alabama ace Kelsi Dunn until the fifth inning when shortstop Abby Vock sent a grounder up the middle.
Lindsey Ubrun got Missouri’s only other hit in the game in the seventh inning. Dunn would later (25-4) walk in a run later in the inning for the Tigers only run.
Stacy Delaney, who did not start the first game of any Big 12 series this season, got the start Friday after winning two games and saving another in last weekend’s NCAA Regional in Iowa City.
Delaney (20-4) gave up six earned runs in four innings, including five runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jana Hainey pitched the final two innings without giving up a run.
The teams will return to the field tomorrow to complete the series beginning at 2 p.m with the final game scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. if necessary.
Jen Bruck will likely start for Missouri in the first game. Bruck and fellow senior Amanda Renth are the only two Tigers who were on the softball team when it last traveled to Alabama.
Both players started the game as freshmen when Missouri defeated the then-No. 6 Crimson Tide in 2005.