No. 15 Missouri softball defended their home turf against the No. 9 Florida Gators, winning the series after the first two games. While the final game didn’t go as planned for Missouri, they were able to pick up their second series win against a top-10 team; the other series was against currently-ranked No. 7 LSU. Missouri moved to 33-11 on the season and 7-8 in SEC play.   

Game one saw Missouri win 6-3 in a nailbiter. Florida was up 2-0 early before the Tigers came storming back with two runs in the second inning without recording a single hit. Sophomore utility player Kayley Lenger was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring junior catcher Julia Crenshaw. With the bases still loaded and only one out, senior shortstop Jenna Laird flew out to left field, allowing freshman Stefania Abruscato to score and tie the game. 

Florida regained the lead 3-2 in the top of the third inning on a single from junior designated player Reagan Walsh. Missouri was held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when they broke out and scored four runs to take the lead 6-3. Freshman first baseman Abby Hay started the inning with a walk, then was lifted for pinch runner freshman Claire Cahalan. Lenger singled to score Cahalan. With the bases loaded, senior Alex Honnold was hit by a pitch, subsequently taking the lead for Missouri 4-3. Senior Maddie Gallagher singled and scored two runners to extend the lead to 6-3. 

Senior ace Laurin Krings started for Missouri and threw 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while also striking out three batters. Freshman Marissa McCann relieved Krings in the fifth inning and pitched the rest of the game. McCann struck out three, and allowed only one hit and zero runs. Since she came in with Missouri down 3-2, McCann was credited with the win instead of the save, making her 7-2 on the year.  

In game two, Missouri won 5-2 behind a strong, albeit relatively short, performance from sophomore Cierra Harrison. She threw 4.1 innings with two runs on five hits, while striking out four. McCann and sophomore Taylor Pannell came in clutch for the Tigers as well, allowing a combined zero hits and zero runs in 2.2 innings. 

Laird had the best day offensively, going 3-4 with a double and two RBIs. Both RBIs came in the second inning, scoring Crenshaw and junior Mya Dodge. Right after Laird’s double, Honnold doubled to left field and scored Laird, then scored on the next play to make the score 4-2. Missouri added one more run in the third inning on a home run from Dodge. 

The Tigers lost game three 3-1 and were held to just one hit. Missouri scored one run in the fifth inning after Abruscato was hit by a pitch, and eventually her pinch runner, freshman Danielle Blackstun, scored on a groundout from Dodge. 

Krings started her second game of the series and pitched relatively well. She threw 4.1 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, but she also struck out three batters. McCann relieved Krings and pitched the final 2.2 innings, giving up zero runs and zero hits.  

Copy Edited by Briana Iordan | biordan@themaneater.com

Edited by Genevieve Smith | gsmith@themaneater.com