COLUMBIA, Mo. – Jordan Weber threw Mizzou’s 40th no-hitter in program history to send Mizzou to the Super Regionals for the first time since 2016. Weber and Laurin Krings fired back-to-back one-hitters to open the Columbia Regional. The Tigers defeated Iowa State 5-0 in the Final.
As the designated visitors for the contest, Mizzou grabbed the lead in the first and led the entire way. Brooke Wilmes drew a leadoff walk to get things started and Hatti Moore drove a double into right-center field to put the Tigers on top.
Weber began the game by walking the leadoff batter but settled in very quickly. After the runner stole second, the Lee’s Summit native struck out a pair of batters to close out the first.
The Tigers were able to extend the lead in the second with some aggressive baserunning from Hannah McGivern. McGivern entered as a pinch runner after Emma Raabe drew a walk. After stealing second, she advanced to third on a foul out on the first base side. She then scored on an Abby George single to the pitcher. George then stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball. Brooke Wilmes smacked a single up the middle to extend the lead to 3-0.
Kimberly Wert started the second with a highlight-reel catch over the railing of the Mizzou dugout. Jordan Weber sent down the Iowa State hitters in order, adding another strikeout.
TURNING POINT
The Tigers added another run in the third on a wild pitch. After loading the bases with one out, Kendal Cook came home on a wild pitch to push the Mizzou lead to 4-0.
Iowa State began to get close to earning their first hit of the ballgame. A line drive into right field was caught by a sliding Abby George who pinned the pall between her glove, her right arm and her body to keep Weber’s no-hit bid alive.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Cyclones nearly collected their first hit. Shortstop Jenna Laird dove to her right to field a sharp ground ball, got up and fired a strike across the diamond to just get the runner at first.
Both teams went down in order in the sixth, bringing Weber within one inning of a no hitter. However, Brooke Wilmes would add one to the Missouri lead by blasting a solo home run over the right field wall.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jordan Weber forced the leadoff batter to fly out on a 1-2 count to start the inning. She fell behind 3-0 in the count to the second batter but came back and struck her out swinging. For the final out, Weber jumped ahead 0-2 quickly. The batter fought it back to a 2-2 count before Weber finished the no-hitter with an eight-pitch strikeout.
TOP TIGERS
Jordan Weber followed up her six-inning one-hitter with a complete game no-hitter. She struck out seven batters with only two walks.
Brooke Wilmes went 2-for-3 in the contest with a home run, two RBI and a walk.
Hatti Moore had an impressive weekend at the plate. In the series, Moore was 7-for-9 with four RBI and a double. She caught the third no-hitter of her career, but the first that went seven innings.
NOTES
Brooke Wilmes became the first Tiger to reach 50 RBI on the season.
Wilmes homered in three-consecutive games for the first time in her career.
Mizzou pitching did not allow a baserunner to move past second base in the Regional while only allowing two hits over 20 innings.
Jordan Weber tossed the 40th no-hitter in Mizzou Softball History. It was the first seven-inning no-hitter since Chelsea Thomas in 2013 against Tennessee.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will advance to the Super Regionals for the first time since 2016 where the Tigers will face James Madison. The Dukes advanced out of the Knoxville Regional.
COURTESY MISSOURI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS