The Missouri Tigers are now 11-1 on the season. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Athletics)
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
CATHEDRAL CITY, CA — The University of Missouri softball team suffered its first loss of the 2024 season in Game 1, but came back to win Game 2 on Day 1 of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at the Big League Dreams Yankee Stadium.
The Tigers lost their opener, 3-2, to San Diego State, but won the second game, 3-2, over Wisconsin.
No. 11-ranked Missouri is now 11-1 on the year.
San Diego State 3, No. 11 Mizzou 2
| NCAA Softball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #11 Missouri (10-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| San Diego State (6-5) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 3 | 1 |
WP: Allie Light – SDSU (3-1) LP: Laurin Krings – MU (5-1)
Both pitchers – Mizzou’s Laurin Krings and SDSU’s Allie Light – made their impact felt early, as the two squads combined for just one hit in the first two innings.
MU attempted to put together the first rally, with Jenna Laird and Alex Honnold on the corners in the top of the third, but the Tigers couldn’t push a run across in the frame.
After striking out the first two batters in the bottom of the third, a defensive miscue by Mizzou would extend the inning. A single and a home run from Mac Barbara punished the mistake and broke the scoreless deadlock, as the Tigers found themselves in a 3-0 hole.
Missouri would quickly answer, loading the bases in the top of the fifth and using a Honnold sacrifice fly to cut into the San Diego State lead, 3-1.
In the top of the sixth, Kayley Lenger launched the first home run of her collegiate career, a solo shot to left, to pull the Tigers within one.
The Tigers would enter the seventh needing a run to tie it, and Kara Daly would single to keep the rally alive with two outs, but MU was unable to plate the game-tying run, dropping the contest 3-2.
No. 11 Mizzou 3, Wisconsin 2
| NCAA Softball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #11 Missouri (11-1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Wisconsin (5-7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
WP: Taylor Pannell – MU (1-0) LP: Tessa Magnanimo – WIS (2-2)
The Tigers then finished the first day with a victory over Wisconsin, 3-2.
Alex Honnold knocked a one-out double, before scoring on a wild pitch to put the Tigers on the board, 1-0, in the first.
Though she was presented with a no decision, Cierra Harrison held the Badgers scoreless through the first four innings. Harrison logged six strikeouts, while allowing just one run on four hits over 5.0 innings of work.
The Lee’s Summit, Mo., sophomore, also benefited from stout Mizzou defense. With one-out and a Badger at third, junior catcher Julia Crenshaw picked off Danielle Lucey attempting to increase her lead at third before Harrison blanked a Wisconsin hitter with a strikeout.
Wisconsin evened the score at one a piece in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homer from Ava Kuszak.
The Tigers then mounted an offensive attack in the top of the seventh to break the tie.
Sparked by a Jenna Laird single to center, the Tigers would pull ahead 3-1. Laird would advance to third on a wild pitch before Kara Daly drew a walk for runners on the corners. Daly was then lifted for pinch runner Danielle Blackstun.
Laird then tagged home on an RBI single from Maddie Gallagher as Blackstun showcased her knack for base running, going first to third on the play. Blackstun later scored on a wild pitch.
Tiger closer Taylor Pannell closed out the sixth and seventh for the win. After entering following a leadoff walk, Pannell pitched around a bases loaded jam in the sixth.
The Badgers would have the bases juiced once again in the seventh, with Pannell limiting the damage to one. She closed both of the final two innings with strikeouts, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
Mizzou will play two games again on Friday. At 7:30 p.m., they’ll play Central Florida. Then at 10, the Tigers will take on Cal State Fullerton.
