Mizzou coach Larissa Anderson talks strategy with Kara Daly, after her two-run single gave the Tigers the lead in their first game on Friday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
CATHEDRAL CITY, CA — The No. 11-ranked University of Missouri softball team picked up a pair of victories Friday night on Day 2 of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
In Game 1, Missouri defeated Central Florida 5-1. And in the night cap, the Tigers shut out Cal State Fullerton, 3-0.
No. 11 Mizzou 5, Central Florida 1
| NCAA Softball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Florida (6-5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| #11 Missouri (12-1) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 5 | 9 | 0 |
WP: Laurin Krings – MU (6-1) LP: Sarah Willis – UCF (2-2)
The Tigers would threaten early, with their first two batters getting on before Kara Daly smacked a two-run single through the right side of the infield to take a 2-0 lead.
Mizzou’s offense would pick back up in the next inning, as Alex Honnold would connect on a two-out double to right and score Jenna Laird for the second time in the game.
Central Florida would get one back in the top of the fourth, as a solo shot from Chloe Evans cut into the Tiger lead. It was the first extra-base hit Laurin Krings’ allowed in the contest. Krings would quickly settle down, coaxing a groundout and striking out a pair to keep the lead at 3-1.
Missouri added a pair of insurance runs, first in the bottom of the fifth when Mya Dodge brought home Danielle Blackstun, giving the Tigers a 4-1 lead. Blackstun came on as a pinch runner after Daly was plunked by a pitch. She would advance to third after a sacrifice bunt and a groundout before touching home on Dodge’s RBI single.
Then it was Julia Crenshaw driving in Honnold to put MU ahead 5-1 in the sixth. Honnold posted a two-out base hit before proceeding to steal second and score off Crenshaw’s RBI.
Senior Laurin Krings went the distance in the circle for the complete game victory, allowing just one run on six hits to go with five strikeouts.
No. 11 Mizzou 3, Cal State Fullerton 0
| NCAA Softball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal State Fullerton (8-4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| #11 Missouri (13-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 3 | 5 | 1 |
WP: Marissa McCann – MU (1-0) LP: Haley Rainey – CSF (2-3) SV: Taylor Pannell -MU (2)
The Tigers would threaten early, loading the bases in the first following an Alex Honnold double, but were unable to take an early lead.
Then, it was freshman Marissa McCann retiring consecutive Titans to shut down their early scoring chance, stranding a runner after a one-out double in the top half of the second.
From there, both pitchers were able to control the opposing offenses as McCann and Cal State Fullerton’s Haley Rainey combined to retire 16 straight batters, stretching from the bottom of the third to the top of the sixth inning.
McCann picked up her first career victory, only allowing two hits (no runs) over six innings pitched with five strikeouts.
Mizzou was able to break the tie in the bottom of the sixth, with a rally sparked by a one-out double off the bat of Kara Daly. Maddie Gallagher then reached on an error to put two runners on, before pinch hitter Katie Chester blasted a three-run homer — her third of the season — which would prove to be the deciding blow in Missouri’s 3-0 victory.
Closer Taylor Pannell would then come on in the seventh to secure the victory. Pannell surrendered a one-out single before consecutive flyouts for the save.
Mizzou will close out its California trip on Saturday with a matchup against No. 22 Baylor. First pitch is set for 10 p.m.
