The Tigers faced many challenges during their week in California
Missouri softball struggled in the Mary Nutter Classic, walking away with two wins and three losses during its three days in California.
Missouri 1, Rutgers 0
Missouri took down Rutgers for its first win of the tournament. The Tigers broke through in the fifth inning when freshman infielder Madison Uptegrove made it home off a hit from freshman third baseman Saniya Hill.
The Tigers held off Rutgers and got its first win of the tournament 1-0. Junior pitcher Taylor Pannell pitched a career-best seven innings, only allowing four hits and throwing seven strikeouts. The win left Pannell 2-2 in 2025.
UCLA 4, Missouri 1
The Tigers marked their first loss of the tournament 4-1 against UCLA. The Bruins took the lead early in the second inning with two runs. Sophomore infielder Madison Walker hit an RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, helping gain a run for Missouri.
UCLA responded with two more runs, concluding the game in a three-run loss for the Tigers. Sophomore pitcher Marissa McCann pitched for five innings before sophomore Nathalie Touchet filled in for the final inning.
Missouri 8, Baylor 3
Missouri bounced back the next day in its first game against Baylor, taking the 8-3 win. The game started fast as the Tigers led 3-2 after the first inning. Senior catcher Julia Crenshaw hit a leadoff homer followed by another shot from sophomore center fielder Stefania Abruscato.
Walker extended the lead with her fifth home run of the season in the third inning. Junior outfielder Haidyn Sokoloski knocked her first hit and RBI as a Tiger in the seventh inning to bring home the 8-3 win for Missouri.
Junior pitcher Cierra Harrison pitched all seven innings with a season-best, only letting up three earned runs on four hits.
Minnesota 3, Missouri 1
The Tigers fell to Minnesota 3-1 to conclude the second day. Minnesota scored all three runs in the third inning. Walker hit an RBI in the fifth inning, earning the Tigers’ only run of the evening.
McCann once again pitched all six innings, recording her third complete game of the season.
Oregon 11, Missouri 3
In the final game of the tournament Missouri fell 11-3 to Oregon. The Ducks scored three runs in the second inning, taking an early lead against the Tigers. Senior third baseman Kara Daly hit a three-run homer in the third inning, with sophomore first baseman Abby Hay and sophomore outfielder Claire Cahalan scoring on the shot.
Oregon, with eight straight runs, took down the Tigers 11-3.
The Tigers will be on the road again for another tournament at the Shocker Invitational. The first game is against Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, in Wichita, Kansas.
Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com