Mizzou pitcher Marissa McCann earned her second straight win in relief, as the Tigers topped No. 3 LSU on Saturday. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

NCAA Softball1234567RHE
#3 LSU (24-4, 4-4)1100000261
#16 Mizzou (25-6, 4-4)003000X351

WP: Marissa McCann – MIZ (4-1) LP: Raelin Chaffin – LSU (7-2) SV: Taylor Pannell – MIZ (6)

Paige Dale
Staff Writer

COLUMBIA, MO — Thanks to a dynamite day of defense and some superb relief pitching from freshman Marissa McCann, the University of Missouri softball team earned its second straight victory and clinched a series win over No. 3 LSU on Saturday, with a 3-2 win at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.

The home team Tigers are now 25-6 on the season and 4-4 in SEC play, after earning a hard-fought win in front of a program-record crowd of 3,370 raucous fans who were treated to a thrilling game between two of the SEC’s top teams.

LSU (24-4, 4-4) got on the board first, when it got a pair of solo home runs in the first and second innings by Ali Newland and McKenzie Redoutey. Those dingers got Missouri starting pitcher Cierra Harrison knocked out of the game.

But Mizzou head coach Larissa Anderson made the right call when she turned to McCann, who took over in the circle and pitched four strong innings for the Tigers. The true freshman from Surprise, Ariz., came in in relief on Friday and earned the win as Mizzou battled from behind to win. She then did the same thing on Saturday, as Missouri used her inspiration in the circle to battle back again.

McCann allowed just three hits and also benefitted from a number a fantastic defensive plays, including two diving catches in the outfield and a home-run saving grab at the wall by junior centerfielder Alex Honnold that kept LSU off the board.

With McCann holding the visiting Tigers to at two, Missouri used a big rally in the bottom of the third to take the lead.

Chantice Phillips got the inning started by reaching on an error by LSU. Then Kayley Lenger followed with a hit that moved Phillips to second.

Jenna Laird followed with a line-shot single of her own that scored Phillips on an obstruction play at the plate. That made the score 2-1.

Julia Crenshaw then singled home Lenger to tie the score at two. Kara Daly was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then, Maddie Gallagher was also hit by a pitch to force in a run and give Mizzou the lead at 3-2.

McCann and Mizzou defense made that lead stick.

LSU got a runner on in the top of the fourth, but Crenshaw threw a runner out trying to steal second to prevent any rally in that inning.

In the fifth inning, LSU got two runners on with nobody out, but Mizzou made three dazzling defensive plays to get out of the inning. First, Lenger made a diving catch in right field to get the first out. Then, Phillips made a sliding catch on a blooper to left to get the second out.

That’s when Newland came up and belted a ball that seemed destined to fly over the centerfield wall for a home run. But Honnold ran it down and leaped over the wall to make the catch that preserved the Mizzou lead and brought the entire record crowd to its feet for cheers and high-fives.

In the sixth inning, LSU got two runners on again with two outs. But on a dipping fly ball that had sailed into foul territory, Lenger made another brilliant diving catch to get the last out and keep LSU from possibly tying the game. That play also brought the Mizzou faithful to their feet.

With Mizzou in the lead going to the seventh, Anderson then turned to closer Taylor Pannell — the SEC leader in saves. And the sophomore lefty did her job, as she got took LSU three-up, three-down, with the final out on a dipping, change-up strikeout that gave Mizzou its third straight win of the week.

Pannell is now tied for the NCAA lead with six saves.

The Tigers will now go for the series sweep on Sunday, when they’ll host LSU in Game 3. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

LogoTeamInningPlay DescriptionLSUMIZ
LSULSU1stNewland homered to right field, RBI (2-2).10
LSULSU2ndRedoutey homered to right center, RBI (1-0).20
MizzouMIZ3rdLaird singled to left field, RBI (1-1); Lenger advanced to second; Phillips scored, unearned.21
MizzouMIZ3rdCrenshaw singled to center field, RBI (1-2); Laird advanced to second; Lenger scored, unearned.22
MizzouMIZ3rdGallagher hit by pitch, RBI (0-2); Daly advanced to second; Crenshaw advanced to third; Laird scored, unearned.23

MISSOURI TIGERS 2024 WOMEN’S SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTV
March 24, 2024 (Sunday)1 p.m.Home3 LSUMizzou Softball Stadium
March 26, 2024 (Tuesday)1 p.m.NeutralFordhamHempstead, N.Y.
March 26, 2024 (Tuesday)3:30 p.m.AwayHofstraHempstead, N.Y.
March 28, 2024 (Thursday)3 p.m.AwayGeorge MasonFairfax, Va.
March 30, 2024 (Saturday)9 a.m.AwayVillanovaVillanova, Pa.
April 3, 2024 (Wednesday)4 p.m.HomeSoutheast MissouriMizzou Softball Stadium
April 3, 2024 (Wednesday)6:30 p.m.HomeSoutheast MissouriMizzou Softball Stadium
April 5, 2024 (Friday)5 p.m.Away16 ArkansasFayetteville, Ark.
April 6, 2024 (Saturday)NoonAway16 ArkansasFayetteville, Ark.
April 7, 2024 (Sunday)2 p.m.Away16 ArkansasFayetteville, Ark.
April 10, 2024 (Wednesday)4 p.m.AwayDrakeDes Moines, Iowa
April 12, 2024 (Friday)5 p.m.Home17 FloridaMizzou Softball Stadium
April 13, 2024 (Saturday)12:30 p.m.Home17 FloridaMizzou Softball Stadium
April 14, 2024 (Sunday)2 p.m.Home17 FloridaMizzou Softball Stadium
April 17, 2024 (Wednesday)5 p.m.HomeSIU-EdwardsvilleMizzou Softball Stadium
April 19, 2024 (Friday)5 p.m.Away6 GeorgiaAthens, Ga.
April 20, 2024 (Saturday)1 p.m.Away6 GeorgiaAthens, Ga.
April 21, 2024 (Sunday)1 p.m.Away6 GeorgiaAthens, Ga.
April 27, 2024 (Saturday)8 p.m.HomeMississippi StateMizzou Softball Stadium
April 28, 2024 (Sunday)5 p.m.HomeMississippi StateMizzou Softball Stadium
April 29, 2024 (Monday)6 p.m.HomeMississippi StateMizzou Softball Stadium
May 3, 2024 (Friday)5 p.m.Away23 South CarolinaColumbia, S.C.
May 4, 2024 (Saturday)5 p.m.Away23 South CarolinaColumbia, S.C.
May 5, 2024 (Sunday)2 p.m.Away23 South CarolinaColumbia, S.C.
May 7, 2024 (Tuesday)TBANeutralSEC TournamentAuburn, Ala.