Mizzou softball ace Paige Lowary transfers to NCAA champ Oklahoma

Missouri’s softball ace is joining the reigning NCAA champions.

Paige Lowary — a Dallas Center, Iowa, native who recently finished her sophomore season — dominated her way through regional play in the Tigers journey to an NCAA super regional in May.

Now, she’ll add depth to the pitching staff at Oklahoma.

Lowary made the announcement Friday on Twitter: “Well, it’s official! I will be finishing my softball career and education at the University of Oklahoma!! I am so grateful for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to get to Norman and start my journey as a Sooner.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/XUCJauZatI">pic.twitter.com/XUCJauZatI</a></p>&mdash; Paige Lowary (@PAIGELOWARY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PAIGELOWARY/status/754088373938192384">July 15, 2016</a></blockquote>

Last season, Lowary went 25-8 with a 3.25 ERA for the Tigers, who finished 42-16. She struck out 151 batters against 103 walks with 186 hits allowed in a team-high 198 innings.

Lowary was one of the players behind the complaint to former athletic director Mack Rhoades that triggered an investigation into Mizzou coach Ehren Earleywine for alleged verbal abuse of players, a source told The Star.

As a freshman, Lowary went 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 162 2/3 innings.

She was struck in the face by a line drive early last season and struggled with her command in the wake of the injury.

By regional play, Lowary was back in form and brilliant, becoming the only pitcher in NCAA history to toss three run-rule sweeps en route to a super regional appearance.

She scattered seven hits and four walks in 16 innings, striking out 13 without allowing a run, but she’ll use her trade next season on a team that includes Truman High graduate Paige Parker.

Parker, Oklahoma’s ace the last two seasons, is 66-10 with a 1.64 ERA in 89 appearances, including 67 starts, during her first two collegiate seasons.

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 8:40 PM with the headline "Mizzou softball ace Paige Lowary transfers to NCAA champ Oklahoma."