Missouri softball started off the SEC Tournament red hot, winning three close games while allowing three runs. The success fell short in the finale, as the Tigers fell short of the title with a loss to Florida.

No. 5 seed Missouri started off the tournament with a 3-1 win against No. 13 Ole Miss. This was their first meeting this year, as these teams did not match up during the regular season. The game originally scheduled for 1 p.m.,  started two hours later as the game before lasted 14 innings and nearly 4 hours. 

 The Tigers scored all three of their runs in the third inning. With two outs and runners on the corners, senior outfielder Alex Honnold doubled to score both runners. 

After a walk from senior infielder Maddie Gallagher, freshman infielder Abby Hay extended the lead with a single to left center field, driving Honnold home. 

Missouri held onto the lead thanks to the pitching of senior Laurin Krings. In six innings pitched, Krings allowed a single run with three hits. The Colorado native was efficient in her outing, throwing 56 strikes on 79 total pitches. 

Krings’ only run came on a solo home run from senior infielder Aynslie Furbush to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning. Pannell replaced Krings, shutting down the Ole Miss offense to win the game for the Tigers.

The next challenge for Missouri came at the hands of No. 4 Arkansas. It was the same score as the first game for the Tigers, defeating the Razorbacks 3-1. 

This game faced weather delays, as heavy lightning early Thursday pushed the start time from 1 p.m. all the way to 8 p.m. After the first four innings were played that night, more lightning pushed the game to 9 a.m. on Friday morning. 

Missouri ended the night on a high note, taking a 2-1 lead after sophomore outfielder Kayley Lenger scored thanks to a deep double into center field from senior shortstop Jenna Laird. Honnold was the final batter of the evening, with a single to put runners at the corners at the end of the night. 

The Tigers started the next day by scoring their third run. Honnold tried to steal second, being tagged out but allowing Laird to score from third. 

With the scoring done, it all came down to the pitching. Sophomore Cierra Harrison pitched the first five innings, allowing one run. Harrison started pitching the sixth inning, but allowed the first two runners to reach. 

Anderson made the decision to replace Harrison with freshman Marissa McCann. After allowing a single, McCann forced three straight outs including a pair of strikeouts. Pannell came in as the closer, registering three consecutive outs to secure the win. 

Missouri advanced to the finals with a 2-1 walkoff win in the tenth inning over No. 8 LSU. Laird and Honnold started off the bottom of the eighth with a pair of singles. After advancing on a wild pitch, Laird sprinted home on a sacrifice fly from Gallagher to walk off the game. Gallagher contributed offensively in the third inning with a solo home run to kick off the scoring. 

Krings started the game, holding LSU scoreless for the first four innings. The streak ended after a pair of doubles from LSU in the fifth inning. McCann entered the game with two outs and a runner on third, forcing a fly out to keep the game tied. 

McCann pitched the sixth inning, and the first two outs of the seventh. After a walk, Pannell came in to secure the final out of the inning. Pannelll registered three outs in succession in the eighth, letting the offense walk it off in the bottom of the inning. 

This allowed the Tigers to advance to their second SEC tournament championship game in the last three years. 

Missouri’s luck ran out, falling to No. 2 Florida 6-1 in the finale. The Gators jumped ahead with a three-run home run in the second inning from freshman infielder Mia Williams. The inning started with an error committed in the field, extending the inning. The Tigers committed three errors throughout the game, giving Florida a wide array of opportunities. 

Missouri’s only run came in the fourth inning while trailing 4-0. After a single from Gallagher and a double from junior catcher Julia Crenshaw with runners in scoring position, freshman Stefania Abruscato scored Gallagher with a sacrifice fly. The Tigers struggled to score runners after that, leaving seven runners stranded on the base paths. 

The Tigers have yet to win an SEC tournament, despite appearing in three finals. With the regional announcement, No. 7 Missouri returns home to face off against Omaha, Indiana and Washington. Regionals follow a unique format where a team is only eliminated when they have lost twice. Missouri’s first game comes against Omaha on Friday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m.

Edited by Hannah Taylor 

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com