Softball can't overcome big innings in Mizzou invite

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COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Northern Colorado softball nearly put together two great games Friday at the Demarini Invitational on the campus of the University of Missouri. Just an inning in each game kept the Bears from knocking off Eastern Michigan and the host Tigers, ranked No. 3 in the latest NFCA poll.

Northern Colorado (7-18) fell to the Eagles 6-4 and came up short against Mizzou 7-1 and will take the field again tomorrow against Northwestern and Ball State.

The Bears worked themselves into a 3-0 lead after the third inning against EMU but gave up three runs in the fourth to squander their advantage and then allowed single runs to cross in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to come up a bit short.

Sophomore Melisa Ryba (3-2) went the distance and turned in a respectable effort in the defeat from the circle. She gave up nine hits and six runs (four earned) in her seven innings and struck out six while walking just one.

Ryba also led Northern Colorado at the plate against EMU, picking up two doubles. Erin Wilkinson also had a double in the loss (to go along with her three hits against Missouri), and Noel Wees rapped out a single, accounting for the Bears' four hits.

The Tigers (19-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a run in each of the first two innings in the Bears' second game of the day but Northern Colorado held the third-ranked squad in check over the next two innings and pulled to within one, 2-1, in the fourth after Wilkinson doubled to left-center field and later scored on a single from Kailee Vessey.

Mizzou responded with four runs in the fourth to put the game away.

Junior Jamie Juelfs (2-8) allowed eight hits and seven runs (six earned) in the circle. She struck out one in her six innings but walked five.