Major takeaways from the NFCA Div. 1 Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida as the Missouri Tigers win the championship
Missouri softball starts off the 2024 season 5-0 with multiple ranked wins and the NFCA championship trophy. Here are three observations from the tournament in Clearwater, Florida.
First, senior pitcher Laurin Krings has cemented herself as the ace of the Tiger rotation.
As the lone senior on the pitching staff, Krings will see many opportunities to shine on the mound, and she did that and more this weekend. Krings started three games this weekend, No. 13/16 Utah, Liberty and the championship game against No. 5/7 Clemson.
Krings didn’t get the best individual start to the season against Utah, but still held the highly ranked team to three runs and got the win. This was Kring’s 41st win and 29th complete game. Against Liberty, she struck out 10 of the 18 batters and held them to one run through five innings of work, earning her second win of the season. Krings twirled another complete game in the win against Clemson, allowing just one run on six hits.
Next, senior center fielder Alex Honnold could be the X-factor hitter this team needs.
Last year’s only All-American for the Tigers, Honnold returned for her senior year and dominated the NFCA tournament. Honnold had seven RBI’s, eight hits while also scoring three times over the five games. Her best game was against Liberty, where she went 2-2 with a home run and a double.
Lastly, this Missouri team is ready for vengeance and they have the pieces to go deep in the postseason.
With Honnold’s hitting and Krings’ pitching, it will be hard to beat the Tigers this year. In her 6th year at Mizzou, head coach Larissa Anderson notched her 300th career win this weekend and under her coaching, the young Tigers on this roster could blossom into stars. Anderson’s 300th win wasn’t the only major milestone, as Missouri’s win over Clemson was its first win against a top-5 opponent since May 12, 2022.
This strong start to the season should give the Tigers the confidence they need moving further into the season. Watch out for the Tigers in the Tracy Beard College Classic on Feb. 16-18.
Edited by Grace Ainger | gainger@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Grace Knight | gknight@themaneater.com
Edited by Scout Hudson | shudson@themaneater.com