At this point in the season, Mizzou softball needs every win it can get to keep its postseason hopes alive. Wednesday night’s game against Southern Illinois Edwardsville was added late to the schedule, but ended up being the most magical game of the season for the Tigers.
Junior Marissa McCann slabbed the toe for the Tigers and was perfect, literally — she threw the 13th perfect game in program history.
Missouri’s offense was also dominant. The Tigers racked up 12 hits and seven runs with the onslaught beginning in the first inning. After some early traffic on the bases, junior Abby Hay roped an RBI single to center field, making the score 1-0.
In the bottom of the third, junior Stefania Abruscato — McCann’s battery mate — hit a solo shot to push Missouri’s lead to 2-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hay singled to lead off the inning, and was then replaced by freshman Linny Ramsey to run. After a couple of outs and a passed ball where Ramsey advanced to second, junior Claire Cahalan busted it down the line and forced a throwing error, scoring Ramsey and advancing herself to second, extending the lead to 3-0. Sophomore Saniya Hill got the rare start and delivered a three-hit day, the third of which drove in Cahalan to make the lead 4-0.
The Tigers’ offense continued to add on in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Addy Waits drew a one-out walk, then advanced to third on a wild pitch followed by a groundout, which brought up freshman Abby Carr. Carr, who had been struggling at the plate coming into the game, delivered an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Senior Haidyn Sokoloski pinch ran for Carr. Hay came up once more and allowed her teammate to jog around the bases, hitting the Tigers’ second home run of the game and ballooning the lead to 7-0.
McCann, who was untouchable, continued her dominance in the seventh inning. After getting a groundout, she struck out the next two batters, completing the perfect game. The Tigers rushed the field from the dugout and all jumped on McCann to celebrate.
“It almost made me want to tear up, seeing the way my teammates ran out of the dugout and were so excited for me,” McCann said. “I think that shows a lot about the closeness of this team and the way the coaches embraced me after. It means a lot to me.”
This is the Tigers’ first time throwing a perfect game and no-hitter against the same opponent in the same season since 1991.
McCann’s final line — which will be fondly remembered in the program history books — read seven innings, no hits, no walks and 11 strikeouts on 93 pitches.
The Tigers play again Friday, April 24, at Bogle Park against Arkansas.
