There’s no denying the fact that the Southeastern Conference is tough. From football to swimming, athletes and spectators alike can count on hard-fought battles in any matchup.
Softball is no exception. SEC teams make up almost half of the top-10 Division I teams in all three national power ranking polls. Auburn, Florida, Alabama, LSU and Georgia are among the most common.
The Missouri softball team isn’t far behind. The team is No. 9 in the NCAA rankings, No. 14 in USA Softball and No. 15 in USA Today.
If the Tigers can play like they did Sunday against Tennessee, a top-20 team nationally, they have a very good chance at ending up at the top of the SEC rankings instead of the bottom. Missouri clinched the three-game series, winning their second consecutive game of the weekend, 7–3.
The Tigers know how to fight for their spot in the rankings, and key players stand out as the leaders of that fight.
Senior Sami Fagan, Missouri’s starting shortstop, boasted an impressive hitting game in the series finale against Tennessee, going 3–4 and collecting a base hit, two RBI and her 10th home run of the season. Fagan is fast and smart at the plate, which will help the Tigers get past the tough defense that most SEC teams boast.
Freshman outfielder Regan Nash is another speedy player who will make a big impact as the season picks up. Nash was a two-time state champion in the 100-meter dash in high school; that speed helps the Tigers immensely as they work to get as many runners across home plate as possible.
The pitching staff is impressive as well, with sophomore Paige Lowary as the leader. Lowary has 14 wins under her belt, a team-high. She was also selected for the USA Softball women’s elite team this year, one of 18 players nationally. Freshman Danielle Baumgartner is going to make a significant impact as well, adding much-needed depth.
Last year, Missouri had an impressive year, making it to the Super Regional round of the NCAA tournament. This year, the team’s goal is to go one step further and get to the World Series.
First, however, the Tigers need to win those tough battles against those tough SEC teams. The Tigers play Georgia at home this weekend, hoping to clinch another conference series and move up in the SEC standings. The SEC tournament at the beginning of May will test Missouri’s power, as it faces some of the top teams in the nation.
If the Tigers can use their speed and all-around athletic ability at the plate to get past tough pitchers in the circle, there is no doubt that the team can move up in the rankings and perform well come championship season.
_Edited by Theo DeRosa | tderosa@themaneater.com_
