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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Amanda Sanchez’s grand slam paced a six-run second inning to lead No. 15 Missouri by BYU, 9-0, in five innings in an NCAA Regional opener for both teams.
The Tigers (40-14) topped BYU (35-20) for the second time this season after a 16-6 victory last month. Missouri took a 1-0 lead immediately, then erupted for six in the second that included Sanchez’s bomb over the right field fence for a 7-0 lead and cruised to the mercy-rule victory.
“Missouri deserves the credit,” BYU coach Gordon Eakin said in a statement. “They took it to us. They hit the ball really well and their pitcher was bringing it.”
Sanchez finished 2-for-2 with a run scored and five RBI, and Paige Lowary allowed just two hits with five strikeouts and two walks in the complete-game effort for Missouri.
McKenna Bull had four strikeouts for BYU to move to 26-12 on the season, and Gordy Bravo and Madison Merrell had the Cougars’ only two hits of the game.
BYU will play Louisville in a loser’s bracket game Friday at 2:30 p.m. MT on ESPN3. Missouri will face Nebraska in Friday’s winner’s bracket championship of the double-elimination site.