Mizzou’s Maddie Gallagher (left) tries to tag out Tennessee’s Taylor Pannell during Friday’s NCAA softball game in Knoxville. (Photo: Knoxville News)
| NCAA Softball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #11 Missouri (22-4, 2-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| #8 Tennessee (20-4, 1-0) | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 9 | 10 | 0 |
WP: Karlyn Pickens – UT (11-2) LP: Laurin Krings – MIZ (8-4)
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE, TN — The No. 11 University of Missouri softball team dropped its series opener to No. 8 Tennessee, 9-0, in a five-inning run-rule contest, Friday evening at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The defending SEC Champion Lady Vols used a big offensive start which included a pair of doubles, a pair of singles, and a grand slam in the first inning to build a quick 7-0 lead.
Tennessee added runs in the second and third innings to make the score 9-0.
The Tigers were slowed down offensively by Lady Vol starter Karlyn Pickens, who retired nine straight MU batters spanning from the first inning to the fourth inning before Kara Daly connected on a two-out double in the top of the fourth.
Madison Walker drew a one-out walk in the fifth, however the Tigers could not spark a run as Tennessee closed out the 9-0 win. Jenna Laird went 0-for-2 and saw her nine-game hitting streak come to an end.
Mizzou and Tennessee will play Game 2 of their series on Saturday at 1 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | MIZ | UT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | UT | 1st | M. Gibson doubled down the rf line, 2 RBI (2-2 KBFBF); A. Ahlin scored, unearned; K. Milloy scored. | 0 | 2 |
| UT | 1st | D. Rodriguez singled to right field, RBI (1-0 B); S. Nugent advanced to second; M. Gibson scored. | 0 | 3 |
| UT | 1st | G.Koutsoyano homered to center field, 4 RBI (1-2 KSFFB); T. Pannell scored; D. Rodriguez scored; S. Nugent scored. | 0 | 7 |
| UT | 2nd | T. Pannell singled to center field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI (0-0); K. Taylor advanced to third; J.Kirkpatric scored, unearned. | 0 | 8 |
| UT | 3rd | B. Faw homered to left center, RBI (0-1 K). | 0 | 9 |
MISSOURI TIGERS 2024 WOMEN’S SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 16, 2024 (Saturday) | 1 p.m. | Away | 8 Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. |  |
| March 17, 2024 (Sunday) | 12:30 p.m. | Away | 8 Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | |
| March 20, 2024 (Wednesday) | 5 p.m. | Away | Kansas | Lawrence, Kan. | |
| March 22, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Home | 14 LSU | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| March 23, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 p.m. | Home | 14 LSU | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| March 24, 2024 (Sunday) | 1 p.m. | Home | 14 LSU | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| March 26, 2024 (Tuesday) | 1 p.m. | Neutral | Fordham | Hempstead, N.Y. | |
| March 26, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3:30 p.m. | Away | Hofstra | Hempstead, N.Y. | |
| March 28, 2024 (Thursday) | 3 p.m. | Away | George Mason | Fairfax, Va. | |
| March 30, 2024 (Saturday) | 9 a.m. | Away | Villanova | Villanova, Pa. | |
| April 3, 2024 (Wednesday) | 4 p.m. | Home | Southeast Missouri | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 3, 2024 (Wednesday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Southeast Missouri | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 5, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Away | 16 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. |  |
| April 6, 2024 (Saturday) | Noon | Away | 16 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
| April 7, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Away | 16 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
| April 10, 2024 (Wednesday) | 4 p.m. | Away | Drake | Des Moines, Iowa | |
| April 12, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Home | 17 Florida | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 13, 2024 (Saturday) | 12:30 p.m. | Home | 17 Florida | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 14, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Home | 17 Florida | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 17, 2024 (Wednesday) | 5 p.m. | Home | SIU-Edwardsville | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 19, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Away | 6 Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 20, 2024 (Saturday) | 1 p.m. | Away | 6 Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 21, 2024 (Sunday) | 1 p.m. | Away | 6 Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 27, 2024 (Saturday) | 8 p.m. | Home | Mississippi State | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 28, 2024 (Sunday) | 5 p.m. | Home | Mississippi State | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| April 29, 2024 (Monday) | 6 p.m. | Home | Mississippi State | Mizzou Softball Stadium | |
| May 3, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Away | 23 South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | |
| May 4, 2024 (Saturday) | 5 p.m. | Away | 23 South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | |
| May 5, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Away | 23 South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | |
| May 7, 2024 (Tuesday) | TBA | Neutral | SEC Tournament | Auburn, Ala. |