The Missouri softball team fell to Southern Illinois on April 9 with a final score of 5-3. Sophomore pitcher Marissa McCann was the starting pitcher for the Tigers and took to the mound for the first four innings. She allowed three hits, with three runs and five strikeouts.
Sophomore first baseman Abby Hay was back on the field after a minor back injury during the Illinois game on March 18, which the Tigers won 5-3. She took first base and was fifth in the batting lineup, with two personal outs.
The game picked up in the bottom of the third inning as senior catcher Julia Crenshaw doubled down the left field line. Crenshaw made it all the way to second and sent junior infielder Kayley Lenger home. Senior infielder Taylor Ebbs hit a ground ball to second and made it to first off an error, scoring Crenshaw and giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Freshman outfielder Nevaeh Watkins started the game in left field. She made a diving catch in the top of the second inning and earned four personal outs.
Southern Illinois pushed back in the fourth inning as sophomore catcher Emily Williams hit the first home run for the Salukis, bringing in two more runs with her. This gave Southern Illinois a 3-2 lead.
Junior pitcher Taylor Pannell took over the mound from McCann in the top of the fourth inning. However, head coach Larissa Anderson was ejected for this, as she subbed in Pannell before McCann finished pitching to a player. Pannell finished allowing three hits with two runs and three strikeouts.
The Salukis and the Tigers earned one run each in the fifth inning. Southern Illinois gained another run in the top of the seventh. With no response from Missouri, the Salukis took the win 5-3.
Crenshaw hit her 11th home run of the season, finishing the game 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBIs. She also had two hits, two runs and eight personal outs.
The Tigers traveled to play Mississippi State on April 11 at 6 p.m. in Starkville, Mississippi.
Edited by Colin Simmons l csimmons@themaneater.com
Edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com
