Mizzou’s Danielle Blackstun runs the bases during Game 1 of the Tigers’ Thursday doubleheader against Texas A&M. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

Paige Dale
Staff Writer

COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri women’s softball team nearly pulled off a pair of dramatic rallies in a doubleheader Thursday evening against No. 1-ranked Texas A&M.

In Game 1, the Tigers took the lead on a grand slam by Madison Walker in the bottom of the sixth. And in Game 2, Missouri tied the score at 3 on a two-out, two-run single by Walker in the bottom of the seventh.

Unfortunately, Texas A&M was able to regain the lead both times and held on to win both games — 7-5 in Game 1 and 4-3 in nine innings in Game 2.

Madison Walker celebrates giving her team the lead with a grand slam home run in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader against Texas A&M. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

NCAA Softball1234567RHE
#1 Texas A&M30001037110
Mizzou0100040541

WP: Emiley Kennedy – TXAM (15-3) LP: Marissa McCann – MIZ (8-10)

Trailing 4-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, Mizzou got a leadoff double by senior Julia Crenshaw and a pair of two-out walks by Abby Hay and Stefania Abruscato to set up the dramatic bases-loaded at-bat for Walker.

And on a 1-0 pitch, the sophomore drilled a blast over the right-centerfield wall to give Mizzou a 5-4 lead.

Unfortunately, A&M responded like the No. 1 team in the country should and scored three runs on four hits to re-take the lead.

Mizzou brought the potential tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but wasn’t able to score and lost the game 7-5.

NCAA Softball123456789RHE
#1 Texas A&M101001001480
Mizzou000001200352

WP: Emiley Kennedy – TXAM (16-3) LP: Taylor Pannell – MIZ (5-6)

A&M led 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth in the nightcap, but that’s when Mizzou went to work again.

First, the Tigers got on the board in the sixth, when Abruscato led off the inning with a double, then scored on a two-out RBI double by Hay.

Then, while trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Mizzou got a pair of runners on with one out, who advanced to second and third with two outs. That’s when Walker came to the plate and lined a single up the middle to score Lenger and Crenshaw to tie the game at 3.

In the top of the ninth though, A&M’s Amari Harper smashed a home run to right to give the Aggies a 4-3 lead, which they were able to hold for the win.

The two losses dropped Mizzou’s season record to 22-26 and its SEC mark to 3-14. A&M is 39-5 overall and 13-3 in the conference.

The teams will conclude their series with a 12 p.m. game at Mizzou Softball Stadium on Friday.

2025 MIZZOU TIGERS SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTVResults
February 7, 2025 (Friday)NoonNeutralMarshallClearwater, Fla.W 9-1 (1-0)
February 7, 2025 (Friday)3 p.m.Neutral21 NorthwesternClearwater, Fla.W 3-0 (2-0)
February 8, 2025 (Saturday)NoonNeutral7 DukeClearwater, Fla.W 10-3 (3-0)
February 8, 2025 (Saturday)5 p.m.NeutralNotre DameClearwater, Fla.L 4-3 (3-1)
February 9, 2025 (Sunday)9 a.m.NeutralIowaClearwater, Fla.W 3-2 (4-1)
February 11, 2025 (Tuesday)5 p.m.AwayUCFOrlando, Fla.L 6-5 (4-2)
February 13, 2025 (Thursday)9 a.m.Neutral9 Florida StateClearwater, Fla.L 9-1 (4-3)
February 13, 2025 (Thursday)NoonNeutral25 ClemsonClearwater, Fla.W 10-6 (5-3)
February 14, 2025 (Friday)5:30 p.m.NeutralOhio StateClearwater, Fla.L 7-2 (5-4)
February 15, 2025 (Saturday)9:30 a.m.NeutralLibertyClearwater, Fla.W 5-3 (6-4)
February 15, 2025 (Saturday)12:30 p.m.NeutralSan Diego StateClearwater, Fla.L 5-2 (6-5)
February 20, 2025 (Thursday)2:30 p.m.NeutralRutgersCathedral City, Calif.W 1-0 (7-5)
February 20, 2025 (Thursday)7 p.m. Neutral5 UCLACathedral City, Calif.L 4-1 (7-6)
February 21, 2025 (Friday)NoonNeutral20 BaylorCathedral City, Calif.W 8-3 (8-6)
February 21, 2025 (Friday)2:30 p.m.NeutralMinnesotaCathedral City, Calif.L 3-1 (8-7)
February 22, 2025 (Saturday)11:30 a.m.Neutral23 OregonCathedral City, Calif.L 11-3 (8-8)
February 28, 2025 (Friday)3 p.m.Neutral15 Oklahoma StateWichita, Kan.L 4-3 (8-9)
February 28, 2025 (Friday)5:30 p.m.AwayWichita StateWichita, Kan.W 10-1 (9-9)
March 1, 2025 (Saturday)10 a.m.NeutralSouth Dakota StateWichita, Kan.W 10-1 (10-9)
March 1, 2025 (Saturday)3 p.m.Neutral19 NebraskaWichita, Kan.W 7-1 (11-9)
March 2, 2025 (Sunday)NoonNeutral19 NebraskaWichita, Kan.L 10-9 (11-10)
March 4, 2025 (Tuesday)5 p.m.HomeKansas CityMizzou Softball StadiumPostponed
March 7, 2025 (Friday)5:30 p.m.AwayKentuckyLexington, Ky.L 6-4 (11-11)
March 8, 2025 (Saturday)1 p.m.AwayKentuckyLexington, Ky.L 5-4 (11-12)
March 9, 2025 (Sunday)3:30 p.m.AwayKentuckyLexington, Ky.L 9-6 (11-13)
March 13, 2025 (Thursday)2:30 p.m.HomeSouth Dakota StateMizzou Softball StadiumW 9-1 (12-13)
March 13, 2025 (Thursday)5 p.m.HomePrincetonMizzou Softball StadiumW 7-4 (13-13)
March 14, 2025 (Friday)5:30 p.m.Home22 MichiganMizzou Softball StadiumW 7-3 (14-13)
March 15, 2025 (Saturday)4 p.m.HomeQuinnipiacMizzou Softball StadiumW 7-1 (15-13)
March 16, 2025 (Sunday)2 p.m.HomeKansas CityMizzou Softball StadiumW 17-0 (16-13)
March 18, 2025 (Tuesday)3 p.m. HomeIllinoisMizzou Softball StadiumW 5-3 (17-13)
March 21, 2025 (Friday)5 p.m. Home1 OklahomaMizzou Softball StadiumL 8-0 (17-14)
March 22, 2025 (Saturday)2 p.m. Home1 OklahomaMizzou Softball StadiumW 3-1 (18-14)
March 23, 2025 (Sunday)NoonHome1 OklahomaMizzou Softball StadiumL 5-1 (18-15)
March 26, 2025 (Wednesday)8 p.m.HomeKansasMizzou Softball StadiumL 3-0 (18-16)
March 29, 2025 (Saturday)TBAAwayOle MissOxford, Miss.L 1-0 (18-17)
March 30, 2025 (Sunday)TBAAwayOle MissOxford, Miss.L 5-3 (18-18)
March 31, 2025 (Monday)6 p.m.AwayOle MissOxford, Miss.W 9-5 (19-18)
April 2, 2025 (Wednesday)5 p.m. HomeMissouri StateMizzou Softball StadiumW 7-2 (20-18)
April 4, 2025 (Friday)6 p.m. Home1 TexasMizzou Softball StadiumL 8-0 (20-19)
April 5, 2025 (Saturday)5 p.m. Home1 TexasMizzou Softball StadiumL 4-3 (20-20)
April 6, 2025 (Sunday)NoonHome1 TexasMizzou Softball StadiumL 3-1 (20-21)
April 9, 2025 (Wednesday)6 p.m.HomeSouthern IllinoisMizzou Softball StadiumL 5-3 (20-22)
April 11, 2025 (Friday)6 p.m.Away15 Mississippi StateStarkville, Miss.L 7-0 (20-23)
April 12, 2025 (Saturday)2 p.m.Away15 Mississippi StateStarkville, Miss.W 12-8 (21-23)
April 13, 2025 (Sunday)1 p.m.Away15 Mississippi StateStarkville, Miss.L 10-2 (21-24)
April 15, 2025 (Tuesday)5 p.m.HomeSIUEMizzou Softball StadiumW 10-2 (22-24)
April 17, 2025 (Thursday)3 p.m.Home1 Texas A&MMizzou Softball StadiumL 7-5 (22-25)
April 17, 2025 (Thursday)6 p.m.Home1 Texas A&MMizzou Softball StadiumL 4-3 (22-26)
April 18, 2025 (Friday)12 p.m.Home1 Texas A&MMizzou Softball Stadium
April 25, 2025 (Friday)TBAAway11 AlabamaTuscaloosa, Ala.
April 26, 2025 (Saturday)8 p.m.Away11 AlabamaTuscaloosa, Ala.
April 27, 2025 (Sunday)TBAAway11 AlabamaTuscaloosa, Ala.
May 1, 2025 (Thursday)6 p.m.Home12 GeorgiaMizzou Softball Stadium
May 2, 2025 (Friday)5 p.m.Home12 GeorgiaMizzou Softball Stadium
May 3, 2025 (Saturday)1 p.m.Home12 GeorgiaMizzou Softball Stadium
May 6-10, 2025 TBDNeutralSEC TournamentAthens, Ga.