The Mizzou Tigers went 38-22 and hosted an NCAA Tournament Regional last season. (Photo courtesy: MU Athletics)
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri women’s softball team was ranked No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Top 25, USA Softball announced Tuesday.
The Tigers received 88 points in the preseason poll, after finishing the 2022 season at No. 22 in the final USA Softball Poll.
Mizzou enters the 2023 season after having hosted an NCAA Regional for the second-consecutive year and playing in the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game for the second time in program history.
In 2023, the Tigers look to stretch their run of 15-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Missouri posted a 38-22 mark in 2022 including a 12-11 record in the SEC.
The Tigers totaled 86 home runs in 2022 which ranks second all-time in program history behind 91 homers, set in 2021. In the field, Missouri recorded a .976 fielding percentage which ranks tied for second behind 2021’s .979 clip.
Mizzou returns its entire pitching staff from a year ago, who posted a 2.81 ERA including a 1.00 ERA in the postseason.
Jordan Weber, a 2022 NFCA Second Team All-Region honoree, and Laurin Krings combined to shut out No. 17/20 Auburn, No. 5/7 Alabama, and No. 13/10 Tennessee en route to the SEC Championship title game.
The Tigers also return 2022 Golden Glove Recipient and NFCA All-Region shortstop, Jenna Laird, along with sophomore third baseman Kara Daly, right fielder Alex Honnold, junior outfielder Chantice Phillips, junior first baseman Riley Frizell and sophomore infielder/outfielder Julia Crenshaw.
Other returning upperclassmen include Kendal Cook (senior outfielder), Hannah McGivern (senior outfielder), Megan Moll (senior catcher/utility player), Addie Lange (redshirt junior catcher) and Kelsee Mortimer (junior corner infielder).
Oklahoma, the reigning back-to-back national champions, received all 25 first-place votes and 625 points to secure the No. 1 spot in the preseason Top 25 Poll. UCLA was voted second with 596 points, while Oklahoma State was third at 559 points. Florida State (497) and Florida (481) round out the top five.
Overall, the SEC had nine teams in the Top 25 — the most of any conference — followed by the Pac-12, which had six, and the ACC, which had four teams. The Big 12 is represented by three ranked teams, while the AAC, Big Ten and Sun Belt all had one.
Missouri will begin its 2023 campaign at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, which will be played February 10-12 in Clearwater, Fla.
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Preseason Top 25
| 1. |  Oklahoma (25)Big 12 2022 Record: 59-3 | Final 2022 Rank: 1 |
| Points: 625 | ||
| 2. |  UCLAPac-12 2022 Record: 51-10 | Final 2022 Rank: 3 |
| Points: 596 | ||
| 3. |  Oklahoma StateBig 12 2022 Record: 48-14 | Final 2022 Rank: 4 |
| Points: 559 | ||
| 4. |  Florida StateACC 2022 Record: 54-7 | Final 2022 Rank: 13 |
| Points: 497 | ||
| 5. |  FloridaSEC 2022 Record: 49-19 | Final 2022 Rank: 5 |
| Points: 481 | ||
| 6. |  ArkansasSEC 2022 Record: 48-11 | Final 2022 Rank: 8 |
| Points: 464 | ||
| 7. |  AlabamaSEC 2022 Record: 44-13 | Final 2022 Rank: 17 |
| Points: 437 | ||
| 8. |  NorthwesternBig Ten 2022 Record: 45-13 | Final 2022 Rank: 6 |
| Points: 429 | ||
| 9. |  TexasBig 12 2022 Record: 47-22-1 | Final 2022 Rank: 2 |
| Points: 411 | ||
| 10. |  ClemsonACC 2022 Record: 42-17 | Final 2022 Rank: 14 |
| Points: 410 | ||
| 11. |  Virginia TechACC 2022 Record: 46-10 | Final 2022 Rank: 9 |
| Points: 357 | ||
| 12. |  TennesseeSEC 2022 Record: 41-18 | Final 2022 Rank: 19 |
| Points: 346 | ||
| 13. |  GeorgiaSEC 2022 Record: 43-18 | Final 2022 Rank: 23 |
| Points: 291 | ||
| 14. |  StanfordPac-12 2022 Record: 39-22 | Final 2022 Rank: T15 |
| Points: 286 | ||
| 15. |  ArizonaPac-12 2022 Record: 39-22 | Final 2022 Rank: 7 |
| Points: 249 | ||
| 16. |  WashingtonPac-12 2022 Record: 38-17 | Final 2022 Rank: 18 |
| Points: 239 | ||
| 17. |  KentuckySEC 2022 Record: 37-19 | Final 2022 Rank: 21 |
| Points: 223 | ||
| 18. |  UCFAAC 2022 Record: 49-14 | Final 2022 Rank: T15 |
| Points: 216 | ||
| 19. |  DukeACC 2022 Record: 44-11 | Final 2022 Rank: 12 |
| Points: 193 | ||
| 20. |  LSUSEC 2022 Record: 34-23 | Final 2022 Rank: RV |
| Points: 179 | ||
| 21. |  AuburnSEC 2022 Record: 40-17 | Final 2022 Rank: RV |
| Points: 124 | ||
| 22. |  OregonPac-12 2022 Record: 33-19 | Final 2022 Rank: 25 |
| Points: 103 | ||
| 23. |  MissouriSEC 2022 Record: 38-22 | Final 2022 Rank: 22 |
| Points: 88 | ||
| 24. |  LouisianaSun Belt 2022 Record: 47-13 | Final 2022 Rank: RV |
| Points: 68 | ||
| 25. |  Oregon StatePac-12 2022 Record: 39-22 | Final 2022 Rank: 10 |
| Points: 65 |
*Records reflect the 2022 season
Parenthesis denotes first place votes.
Others receiving votes: Ole Miss (51), Mississippi State (43), North Texas (13), Arizona State (12), Notre Dame (12), San Diego State (11), Michigan (9), Wichita State (9), Nebraska (7), Baylor (5), Louisville (5), Ohio State (4), Cal State Fullerton (2), LMU (2), Minnesota (2), Boise State (1), BYU (1).