Close, but no cigar. A bill that was close to passing this legislative session would have raised the legal age to marry in Missouri. The bipartisan effort from Sens. Holly Thompson Rehder, R-Scott City, and Lauren Arthur, D-Kansas City, would have banned marriages for anyone under 18 without exceptions.

Currently, in Missouri, you can get married at age 16 with a parent’s consent.

Rehder lamented the fact that House Republicans took such a hardline stance on the issue.

“When you look at the statistics that show for a girl that gets married as a teenager before she’s an adult, the divorce rate is almost 80%,” she told Missourinet. “Why would we do that? Why would a parent knowing that, why would the legislators in this building not want to ban child marriage?”

House Republicans like Rep. Mitch Boggs, R-LaRussell, were concerned that the bill gives the government an excuse to “intrude” in family marriage.

Arthur expressed embarrassment over this stalling in the House of Representatives.

“My friends who are apolitical or live in different parts of the country send me messages and say, ‘What is happening in Missouri?’ It makes Missouri look bad, but more importantly, we are not doing enough to protect young girls who are forced into marriages and whose lives are worse in every way as a result,” she said.

The legislation would not have affected any marriages that have already taken place.

Rehder explained that the issue will be reintroduced next year due to a national push from women’s groups.

“Women want to, number one, help solve the problems that we have with sex trafficking,” she said. “Women, today, in 2024, realize that we have so much more opportunity, our girls have so much more opportunity. We want them to be able to make lifetime commitment decisions when their brains are fully developed.”

Rehder’s reasoning for wanting the bill’s passage is due to the divorce rate being “incredibly high” among couples who got married when they were children.

“It’s shameful, in my opinion, and I think it represents the very ugliest parts of politics and I am hopeful that this is not the last attempt that they make to do right and raise the age to 18,” Arthur added.

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COLUMBIA, Missouri. (WOWT) – Omaha softball’s historic NCAA tournament run came to an end Sunday after two losses to regional hosts Missouri. The Mavericks entered the first regional final undefeated on the weekend, having defeated Mizzou on Friday and Washington on Saturday.

UNO all-time leader in strikeouts Kamryn Meyer started in the circle for Omaha for her third game in three days. The Mavericks took the lead in the bottom of the sixth after an overthrow to third by Missouri sent Marra Cramer home for the first run of the game.

With their season on the line, the Tigers surged back in the top of the seventh. Shortstop Jenna Laird grounded out but sent the tying run home. Missouri immediately followed up with a two-run home run off the bat of Alex Honnold. Missouri plated two more in the frame and went on to win the game, 5-1, forcing a winner-take-all game two.

Elkhorn native Sydney Nuismer stepped into the circle for Omaha with the program’s first-ever trip to a super regional on the line. The senior tossed eight scoreless innings with the Mavs’ dominant defense backing her up. Finally, in the bottom of the ninth, the game still scoreless, Missouri’s Madison Walker made contact and sent Honnold home from third to walk it off, 1-0.

UNO finished the program’s most successful season of the Division I era with an overall record of 43-15. The Mavs’ two NCAA Tournament wins in Columbia were also a program best.

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They took the long way round, but the Tigers are competing for the regional championship.

Missouri softball survived two elimination games in the NCAA Columbia Regional on Saturday, and now faces Omaha — the undefeated regional four-seed — on Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Softball Stadium for a spot in the NCAA Super Regional round.

Mizzou (45-16), the No. 7 national seed, lost in its regional opener to Omaha (43-13) on Friday evening. The Mavericks followed up that upset win by taking down Washington in the winners bracket Saturday afternoon.

That means MU, which eliminated Indiana and Washington in succession to keep its season alive, must beat Omaha twice Sunday to advance.

More: ‘Gutsy’ Missouri softball survives two elimination games in regional. How the Tigers dug deep

Mizzou last advanced to an NCAA Super Regional in 2021, when the Tigers fell to James Madison. Missouri has fallen in the regional round in every other full season of coach Larissa Anderson’s tenure, which began in 2019.

You can find live score updates from Missouri’s regional final against the Mavericks here:

More: Missouri softball: Complete schedule for NCAA Columbia Regional

What channel is Missouri softball vs. Omaha softball on today?

• Stream: ESPN+ | ESPN app
• Date: Sunday, May 19
• Time: First game: 1 p.m. CT; Second game, if necessary: 3:30 p.m.

ESPN+ will have the exclusive stream of the Tigers and Mavericks’ title bout.

Full NCAA Columbia Regional softball schedule

Friday, May 17

Game 1: Washington 8, Indiana 7

Game 2: Omaha 3, Missouri 1

Saturday, May 18

Game 3: Omaha 3, Washington 2

Game 4: Missouri 5, Indiana 1

Game 5: Missouri 4, Washington 1

Sunday, May 19

Game 6: Omaha vs. Missouri at 1 p.m.

Game 7: If necessary at 3:30 p.m.

Live score updates for Missouri vs. Omaha in NCAA Columbia Regional championship