Mizzou’s Kayley Lenger races around the bases during the Tigers’ win over Villanova on Saturday. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Photo)
| NCAA Softball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #13 Missouri (29-7) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Villanova (18-13) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
WP: Marissa McCann – MIZ (6-1) LP: Kelsey White – VU (4-3)
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
VILLANOVA, PA — The University of Missouri softball team capped off its East Coast Spring Break road trip with a 7-0 win, Saturday morning, over Villanova.
The No. 13-ranked Tigers went 4-0 on the trip and outscored their opponents 40-3.
On Saturday, junior shortstop Jenna Laird led Missouri with two hits, an RBI, and a run scored. Fellow juniors Alex Honnold and Maddie Gallagher each had a hit, an RBI, and scored a run.
But the big blow of the day was a solo home run by freshman Stefania Abruscato. It was a booming shot, deep over the right field wall and it was the former New York state high school Gatorade Player of the Year’s first home run as a collegiate player.
Sophomore Cierra Harrison started the game in the circle and tossed three shutout innings, while allowing four hits and two walks, with three strikeouts. Freshman Marissa McCann (6-1) came in to relieve Harrison in the fourth and tossed three scoreless innings of her own. She gave up two hits and struck out three to get the win.
The four wins raised Mizzou’s record to 29-7.
The Tigers will be return to SEC action next weekend, when they travel to Fayetteville to play a three-game series against No. 20 Arkansas.
But before that, Mizzou will host a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 3 against Southeast Missouri State. First pitch of Game 1 at the Mizzou Softball Stadium is slated for 4 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | MIZ | VU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | MIZ | 1st | Gallagher walked (3-2 BBFBFB); Honnold advanced to third on a wild pitch; Laird scored. | 1 | 0 |
| MIZ | 1st | Dodge flied out to rf, SAC, RBI (0-0); Gallagher advanced to third; Honnold scored. | 2 | 0 |
| MIZ | 1st | Crenshaw stole second; Gallagher stole home. | 3 | 0 |
| MIZ | 2nd | Laird singled up the middle, advanced to second on the throw, RBI (0-0); Lenger advanced to third; Hay scored. | 4 | 0 |
| MIZ | 2nd | Gallagher singled up the middle, RBI; Lenger scored. | 5 | 0 |
| MIZ | 6th | Abruscato (1) homered to right field, RBI. | 6 | 0 |
| MIZ | 6th | Honnold flied out to cf, SAC, RBI (0-0); Blackstun scored. | 7 | 0 |
MISSOURI TIGERS 2024 WOMEN’S SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 20 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. |  |
| April 6, 2024 (Saturday) | Noon | Away | 20 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
| April 7, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Away | 20 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. |