Cole Lee

For the first time in three years, Missouri softball is gearing up for a shot at the Women's College World Series in a home NCAA Tournament super regional, with the first of three games starting at 1 p.m. Friday.

A back-and-forth battle early in Friday's opener of the NCAA Tournament Columbia Super Regional turned into a pitchers' duel before Duke softball busted things open late, taking Game 1 with a 6-3 victory over host Mizzou.

Guided by a scoreless first four frames from Laurin Krings (17-9), the senior pitcher whose elimination-game heroics have saved the Tigers more than once this postseason, Missouri grabbed a 3-1 win over Duke in Game 2 of the NCAA Tournament Columbia Super Regional, forcing a decisive Game 3 on Sunday.

of 6 It took nine innings, highlighted by a thrilling battle between star pitchers, but Duke's late surge put an end to the chess

Part of the Woodland Cardinals' efforts to claim the Semoball Cup this year, the Marble Hill program made a big statement in this year's Semoball Awards. This push came largely behind the efforts of Reed Layton, who took home the crown as the Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year for his pair of state titles this fall...

Cole Lee, Harrison Petty, Yasha Mikolajczak

Cole Lee, Yasha Mikolajczak

Cole Lee, Yasha Mikolajczak

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Harrison Petty, Cole Lee