It’s been 27 days and just more than 5,000 miles since the Missouri softball team last took the field in Columbia. The Feb. 11 black and gold exhibition might seem like a whole season away for a team that has competed everywhere from Troy, Ala. to Palm Springs, Calif.
The Tigers return for a much-needed home opener as they host the DeMarini Invitational this weekend at University Field. The three-day tournament opens Friday and will see Missouri take on Alcorn State, Northern Illinois and Boise State.
Even more than offering a chance for the team to extend its current five-game winning streak and keep some serious momentum rolling, this weekend’s tournament promises some well-deserved rest and comfort.
“I can tell you from being married and having kids, (playing at home is) a big deal,” coach Ehren Earleywine said. “It’s a comfort level that you don’t get on the road.”
Earleywine, fresh off of racking up his 250th career win at Missouri and his 397th overall, said substantial travel can really take its toll on the players and staff.
“This weekend is going to allow us some much needed rest and comforts of home,” he said.
The Tigers, who are 10-3 overall this year, went 29-2 at home last season.
Redshirt junior ace Chelsea Thomas said this weekend’s tournament is a good opportunity for some of the younger players to get comfortable. Half of Missouri’s 20-player roster is comprised of freshmen who have just 13 games under their belts so far.
“I think we’re getting settled in now,” Thomas said. “We’ve had a couple tournaments, and we’ve gotten a chance to get comfortable and for the freshmen to get comfortable. We’re just really excited to play in front of our home fans.”
Extended road trips, especially early in the season, can be extremely difficult for players already tasked with adjusting to a new lifestyle and facing better competition at the collegiate level. A long home stand can be the perfect remedy for a few anxiety-filled weeks on the road.
“Some of these kids have never flown before and much less never played against college competition,” Earleywine said. “Many of them have never played in anything near this cold of weather, so you factor all those things together on a road trip, and it can really make for a little bit of an anxiety-built type of surrounding.”
Earleywine said the return home should help the younger players.
“This weekend they’re at home, and that’s comfortable to them,” he said. “It’ll be interesting to see how they do play when they are comfortable.”
Junior shortstop Jenna Marston said the team is ready to come home and play in front of a friendly crowd for the first time.
“Everyone’s really excited to just be home and in their own beds, not traveling,” Marston said. “Hopefully it’ll be a nice weekend. We’ll get some fans out and get the freshmen some crowds and let them see what that’s all about.”
Thomas shared the sentiment.
“I just like to be here, and we always have such a great fan base, and just playing on our home field, there’s nothing better,” she said. “When you can turn around on the mound and see black and gold all along the outfield wall, it’s pretty incredible.”