COLUMBIA, Mo. - No. 19 Mizzou Softball (32-12, 7-9 SEC) posted its first walk-off victory of the 2016 season on Saturday in a dramatic 7-6 extra inning ballgame against No. 16 Texas A&M. Sophomore Amanda Sanchez supplied the heroics for the Tigers, roping an RBI single in the eighth inning.
Sanchez was one of five Tigers with multi-hit efforts Saturday afternoon. Joining the Tiger third basemen was redshirt senior Taylor Gadbois, senior Emily Crane, redshirt senior Sami Fagan and junior Kirsten Mack.
Gadbois, Crane, Fagan and Sanchez were dynamite atop Mizzou's lineup, hitting .625 (10-for-16) with five runs scored, one home run and four RBI. Gadbois' first inning single extended her season-high hitting streak to nine games. The Tiger centerfielder also recorded her fifth three-hit game of the season and team-leading 20th multi-hit outing.
Sophomore Paige Lowary picked up her team-high 17th victory of the year. Lowary matched her career-high with 8.0 innings pitched while earning her 100th strikeout of the 2016 campaign.
Saturday's Top 20 SEC matchup was back and forth all afternoon long. The Tigers and Aggies produced three ties and five lead changes to keep the 1,213 Mizzou faithful on the edge of their seats.
Fagan launched her 11th home run of the year to even the score in the fourth inning. Freshman Rylee Pierce put Mizzou on top in the fifth inning with an RBI double to right field. The Aggies evened the score yet again in the sixth inning following their third home run of the afternoon.
Texas A&M went back to its starting pitcher in the eighth inning and Mizzou capitalized with two consecutive hits to lead off the frame. After intentionally walking Fagan, Sanchez stepped to the plate and ripped a line drive to left field that fell in past the outstretched Aggies defender.
KEY MOMENT
The Tigers delivered clutch at bats all game long, including game-tying hits in the third and fourth innings. Texas A&M had a golden opportunity to go back on top in the eighth inning but Lowary's sixth and final strikeout of the day ended its rally.
