Missouri coach: 'We're playng with Chinese money'

Mizzou

By Tommy Deas

Executive Sports Editor

TUSCALOOSA | Missouri head softball coach Ehren Earleywine knows his team is an underdog playing the third-ranked University of Alabama in the NCAA Super Regional, and that’s just fine with him.

“The truth of the matter is [UA coach Patrick Murphy] knows he’s got the better team,” Earleywine said. “They’ve been ranked 1-2-3 all season.

“We’re not supposed to win. We’re playing with Chinese money. If Alabama loses, it’s going to shock the world. If you ask 1,000 softball people, 1,000 of them will tell you Alabama is going to win.”

Alabama brings a 54-6 record into the best-of-three series, which begins with a single game Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Alabama Softball Complex. Missouri is 47-15.

Third baseman Amanda Renth doesn’t dispute her coach’s take on the Tigers’ position.

“They’re supposed to go out and score 10 runs and we’re not supposed to,” she said. “It’s a super regional. We’re ready to play.”

Said Earleywine, "Let's let [Alabama] feel the weight of that on their shoulders all weekend."

Renth is just happy to be playing in the heat after Missouri actually played several games indoors early in the season on snow days.

“I love to play in the warm weather versus the cold,” she said. “It feels right. It’s the way softball is supposed to be played.”