No. 13 Missouri softball has just three series remaining, and this is a big one in determining where it stands in the SEC.
Missouri softball entered the season with something to prove, and it’s one win away from proving that these aren’t the same Tigers who dwindled down the stretch last season.
How cool is that?!
Now, how you choose to see last season is ultimately on you, but I’ll take a team that’s “worst” season is 35 wins and a regional appearance any day of the week. These Tigers are imperfect, but they are a good softball team, and they’re not at their best yet.
Just ask Mizzou Head Coach Larissa Anderson.
On Tuesday, Coach Anderson had an interesting take on her team, saying, “When we start to put it all together at the same time. I think we’re going to be really, really special to watch. I think the most impressive thing about this team is that when you look at our stats and our numbers, nothing stands out to you. Nothing at all like it’s actually pretty boring, but we win. And that’s probably the most important thing, like we are winning without having the flashy numbers because of the whole energy and the focus on the team is TEAM comes first, winning trumps everything. So do whatever it takes in order for the team to be successful, for the team win.”
Mizzou (34-11, 7-8 Southeastern Conference) is coming off a series win over then-No. 9 Florida (for the first time in a decade!) and a 4-1 win over SIUE in the Tigers’ final midweek game of the season.
Chomped a series win ☀️#OwnIt #MIZ pic.twitter.com/N4wbL9Rlh4
— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) April 17, 2024
This weekend presents a chance to not only strengthen their resume, but also make some headway against one of the teams currently right ahead of them in the SEC standings. Additionally, it would be great to pick up some SEC road wins, of which the Tigers are lacking in thus far.
At this juncture in time, Missouri sits in a tie for eighth in the conference standings, just half a game behind Mississippi State and one full game behind Georgia. A series win, at this point in time, would ensure the Tigers a spot in the top seven of the conference standings entering the final two weeks of the regular season.
BATTER UP.
How to Watch:
WHEN: Friday, April 19 @ 5pm | Saturday, April 21 @ 1pm & 45 min after conclusion of 1st game
WHERE: Jack Turner Softball Stadium | Athens, Ga.
TV/STREAMING: SEC Network+
STATS: Live on StatBroadcast— Friday | Saturday | Sunday
HISTORY: Missouri trails the all-time series with Georgia, 10-14. The last time they faced off was in 2022, when the Tigers took one of three from the Dawgs.
About the Venue:
It’s been a while since Mizzou has made the trek to Athens and Jack Turner Softball Stadium for a game, 2021 to be exact, when this year’s current seniors were freshmen. How did Larissa Anderson describe it?
“It is a very, very loud environment. It’s an elevated seating similar to Tennessee but it’s elevated and it’s very steep. So it feels like they’re right on top of the infield.”
“The (noise is) biggest thing that they have to be prepared for because we have not played in Georgia since our senior’s freshman year,” Anderson said. “And that was during COVID. So there was 30% capacity the last time we were there, and it was a loud environment with 30% capacity. So it’s preparing them that it’s going to be loud. They’re very intense. We have to stay focused, we have to communicate, we have to communicate louder and often so those types of things which will be different than playing in here or playing in other atmospheres.”
Sounds (and looks) intense.
2023 RECORD: 35-26 (7-17 SEC)
2024 RECORD: 34-11 (7-8 SEC)
RANKING: #13 (ESPN.com/USA Softball), #13 (USA Today/NFCA), #10 (D1 Softball), #9 (Softball America), #7 (current RPI)
VS RANKED FOES: #13/16 Utah (W 4-3) | #5/7 Clemson (W 4-1) | #22 Baylor (L 5-4) | #25 Auburn (W 5-2, W 5-0, L 4-0) | @ E8/9 Tennessee (L 9-0 in 5in, L 8-2, L 4-0) | #2/3 LSU (W 10-9, W 3-2, L 4-3) | @ #19 Arkansas (L 5-2, W 12-3 in 5in, L 4-1) | #9 Florida (W 6-3, W 5-2, L 3-1)
SEC-Only Offensive Stats
- J. Laird: .318 BA | 54 AB | 11 R | 17 H | 2 2B | 7 RBI | .352 SLG% | 7 BB | 2 HBP | 9 K | .406 OB% | 3 SB
- A. Hay: .278 BA | 18 AB | 2 R | 5 H | HR | 2 RBI | .444 SLG% | 3 BB | 3 K | .381 OB%
- K. Lenger: .276 BA | 29 AB | 7 R | 8 H | 2B | 2 RBI | .310 SLG% | 1 BB | 7 HBP | 8 K | .432 OB%
- M. Gallagher: .256 BA | 43 AB | 3 R | 11 H | 4 2B | HR | 9 RBI | .419 SLG% | 4 BB | 2 HBP | 12 K | .347 OB%
- A. Honnold: .227 BA | 44 AB | 7 R | 10 H | 4 2B | HR | 10 RBI | .386 SLG% | 4 BB | 2 HBP | 3 K | .314 OB%
SEC-Only Pitching Stats
- M. McCann: 1.88 ERA | 3-2 | 26 IP | 18 H | 7 ER | 8 BB | 9 K | 6 HR | 0.194 OppBA | 2.15 BB/7
- C. Harrison: 4.74 ERA | 2-2 | CG | 20.2 IP | 23 H | 14 ER | 10 BB | 18 K | 7 HR | 0.267 OppBA
- L. Krings: 6.14 ERA | 2-4 | CG | 35.1 IP | 51 H | 38 R | 31 ER | 15 BB | 30 K | 6 HR | .327 OppBA
- T. Pannell: 0.00 ERA | 0-0 | 3 SV | 7 IP | 2 H | 1 BB | 8 K | .087 OppBA
- L. Whitten: 2.10 ERA | 0-0 | 3.1 IP | 2 H | 2 R | 1 ER | 1 BB | 4 K | 1 2B | 0.154 OppBA
PITCHING NOTES:
- Marissa McCann currently sits fifth in the SEC in opponent’s batting average, limiting hitters to just a 0.194 average. She’s the top freshman listed in the rankings, ahead of even last weekend’s freshman star, Keagan Rothrock.
- In SEC play, Mizzou has given up 19 home runs, which is the third most in the league, behind only Mississippi State (20), who the Tigers will meet in a few weeks, and Auburn (26). Looking back to the league series so far presents an even more disturbing picture. The pitching staff has allowed a whopping 32 runs off of home runs, including two grand slams. AUB: 2 R on 2 HR | at TENN: 9 R on 7 HR | LSU: 4 R on 3 HR | at ARK: 5 R on 4 HR | UF: 7 R on 3 HR. This is important to keep in mind because UGA has hit 66 home runs this season, including 12 in SEC play. They’re led by Jayda Kearney (15 HR, 3 SEC), Sara Mosley (12 HR, 2 SEC) and Emily Digby (5 HR, 3 SEC). Mosley is tied for fifth in the SEC in homeruns, hitting .29 a game.
- Will we see Krings this weekend? After Specs’ continued struggles taking her bullpen sessions to the circle for a game as well as the emergence of Marissa McCann as a star, there have been some internal conversations about her role. “I anticipate that she’ll (McCann) be working in the mix as a starter for the SEC series,” Anderson said. “What I need to figure out is the role that Krings will take … so it’s really about trying to figure out what’s going to put us in the best possible situation.”
- Taylor Pannell’s 9 saves — six shy of tying the NCAA record — leads the SEC and the nation. She’s got 3 in SEC play, which leads the conference too. On her role, Anderson said, “It’s so great to have someone like that on staff that embrace that role, that wants to be in that situation, that thrive in that environment. She came up to me before the game and she said, ‘I have a new goal,’ because her first goal was to lead the country in saves… The second she said ‘I want to break the career saves record.’ But um, for someone to embrace that role. It’s rare. It’s really, really rare to be in that she’s had this rep since last year.”
BATTING NOTES
- Per D1 Softball’s Synergy leaderboards, Jenna sits 19th nationally in contact% among batters who have faced a minimum of 500 pitches, making contact 92.1% of the time. Z-Contact% measures contact on pitches made inside the zone/swings on pitches inside the zone. Jenna Laird sits 18th nationally in this measure with 96.2% contact.
- Alex Honnold’s 19 doubles continues to lead the SEC. Her 48 doubles rank 7th in Mizzou history. She is only ONE away from becoming the all-time single season leader.
- Freshman Stefania Abruscato is the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week after her performance against both Drake (3-4, 3 RBI, 2 R) in the last week’s midweek and the Florida series.
- Sophomore Kayley Lenger leads the SEC with 16 hit by pitches, and Maddie Gallagher ranks eighth in the conference with 10 of her own.
- On Honnold’s struggles in SEC play: “(Honnold) is getting herself out a lot in SEC competition, and she’s swinging at the pitcher’s pitch and not her pitch,” Anderson said. “It’s just having that discipline and that trust and not panicking, not trying to hit it as hard as you possibly can, and it’s that confidence that she needs (from) us to support her.”
GENERAL NOTES
- For a team that prides itself on defense, they have been struggling a bit in SEC play, and currently are a long ways from the top of the conference, sitting in 12th. Maddie Gallagher has been impressive, however, and she had several plays against SIUE that left us speechless. Kayley Lenger called herself the backup fielder, just there to help out should Maddie need it.
- On what they can do to prepare for the Georgia series, Kayley Lenger said, “It’s gonna be a loud environment there. So just taking your energy and feeding off of each other and playing for each other and going hard all the time.” Stefania Abruscato added that it was necessary for the offense to keep making adjustments as they go.
Let’s take a look at Mizzou’s opponent, shall we?
2023 RECORD: 42-15 (16-7 SEC) | Knocked out in Super Regionals after losing twice to #3 FL State
2024 RECORD: 34-10 (8-7 SEC) | 22-4 at home
COMMON OPPONENTS: #8/9 Clemson (W 2-1, 8in) | #20 Arkansas (W 8-2, L 2-8, W 8-1) | @ #6/4 Tennessee (L 1-5, W 3-2, L 1-3)
VS. RANKED FOES: #6/8 OK State (W 7-4) |#19/20 UCLA (W 7-2) | #7/5 FL State (W 20-10, 5 in) | #RV/21 VA Tech (L 4-5, W 7-5) | #8/9 Clemson (W 2-1, 8in) | #20/24 Cal (W 4-2) | at #11/10 Stanford (L 1-3, 9 in) | #14/15 Alabama (W 4-2, W 11-3 in 5in, L 4-5) | #20 Arkansas (W 8-2, L 2-8, W 8-1) | @ #6/4 Tennessee (L 1-5, W 3-2, L 1-3) |
RANKINGS: #9 (ESPN/USA Softball), #9 (USA Today/NFCA), #9 (D1 Softball), #11 (S. America), #6 (RPI)
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Offense (Overall) couldn’t find SEC-only
- Jayda Kearney: .373 BA | 134 AB | 30 R | 50 H | 5 2B | 1 3B | 15 HR | 37 RBI | .761 SLG% | 22 BB | 33 K | .462 OB%
- Sydney Kuma: .357 BA | 115 AB | 36 R | 41 H | 6 2B | 1 3B | 5 HR | 18 RBI | .557 SLG% | 24 BB | 8 HBP | 16 K | .497 OB%
- Dallis Goodnight: .354 BA | 79 AB | 29 R | 28 H | 4 2B | 1 HR | 11 RBI | .443 SLG% | 11 BB | 5 HBP | 14 K | .463 OB%
- Jaydyn Goodwin: .346 BA | 78 AB | 16 R | 27 H | 7 2B | 3B | 3 HR | 21 RBI | .577 SLG% | 9 BB | 14 K | .420 OB%
- Sara Mosley: .329 BA | 146 AB | 32 R | 48 H | 8 2B | 13 HR | 53 RBI | .651 SLG% | 10 BB | 18 K | .367 OB%
- Ellie Armistead: .314 BA | 105 AB | 23 R | 33 H | 7 2B | 2 3B | 4 HR | 15 RBI | .533 SLG% | 11 BB | 14 K | .376 OB%
SEC-Only Pitching
- L. Backes: 2.93 ERA | 4-3 | 2 CG | 2 SV | 40.2 IP | 34 H | 21 R | 17 ER | 16 BB | 38 K | 5 HR | 0.218 OppBA
- S. Walters: 3.17 ERA | 1-3 | 1 SV | 35.1 IP | 33 H | 21 R | 16 ER | 13 BB | 22 K | 8 2B | 5 HR | .0.243 OppBA
- M. Kerpics: 4.67 ERA | 3-1 | 24 IP | 24 H | 16 ER | 13 BB | 15 K | 3 2B | 6 HR | .273 OppBA
NOTES:
- The Dawgs wrapped up midseason games on Wednesday with a run-rule victory over UCS Upstate 8-0 in 6 innings. Per georgiadogs.com, it was their 11th game of the season with 10+ hits.
- This game will be a battle of the SEC Save Queens, as UGA’s Lilli Backes sits second in the conference with five saves this season behind Mizzou’s Taylor Pannell (9).
- The Dawgs rank 13th in the country in total walks (171) and 4th in the SEC. Lyndi Rae Davis is the team’s walk leader, with 34. The Tigers’ staff doesn’t give up a ton of walks (especially compared to UGA), but it’s good to know, nonetheless.
- Georgia is hitting .270 in conference play, which is fourth, while their pitching ranks sixth with a 3.43 ERA. For comparison’s sake, Mizzou is 11th with a .222 BA and their pitching is 9th with a 3.86 ERA.
- Jayda Kearney is killing it in SEC play: .356/.473/.556 | 45 AB | 6 R | 16 H | 3 HR | 8 RBI | 10 BB | 10 K
- Sara Mosley ranks second in the SEC in RBI, with 53 on the season, which is also 8th nationally. Tiger pitchers should watch out, as she’s got 11 multi-RBI games on the season, including four where she drove in 5+ runs. KEEP THE BALL OFF THE PLATE AND BELT-HIGH, LADIES!
- Georgia utilizes a three-headed trio of Backes, Madison Kerpics and Shelby Walters in the circle. They have combined for 204 strikeouts and 89 walks in 2561⁄3 innings, displaying that each one is effective at exploiting the zone. These three will likely be used at any point in the game, regardless of situation, as they have all been used in both starter and relief roles.
- Per Georgia head coach Tony Baldwin on the importance of the Dawgs returning home after two road series: ”Oh, man, it is huge! Playing on the road in the SEC is tough sledding. We’ve carried that burden for two weeks in a row, and we’ve had some tough games there. Getting back and getting the energy of our place and our people and, you know, looking to get on a good streak against a really good Missouri team. We’re gonna have to fight like heck and play well to get the outcomes that we want, but we’re looking forward to being home for sure.”
Overall Team Comparisons:
Predictions:
Karen: On The Unwritten Rule podcast (FFWD to 32mins to hear my sweet dulcet tones), I said I hope they walk away with at least one. Georgia’s last home series was a few weeks ago against #20 Arkansas, and the Dawgs lost two of three. The other two losses? #21 VA Tech in late February, and a loss to #14 Alabama in mid-March. It appears that — stop me if you’ve heard this before — the long ball did them in. After some more extensive time spent at home the last week, I think we see an improvement in the Tigers’ plate discipline where they’re focusing on THEIR pitch. I’m going to be like my colleague below and also say we see a big series from Alex Honnold, but also that we see an improved Kara Daly. Gimme Mizzou with their first road series win, two games to one.
Brandon: The statistics say Georgia, which is 22-4 at home and ranked as the higher team, should handle business against a Missouri team that is just 11-5 in true road games. However, with Marissa McCann likely slotting into a starting role, I think the Tigers will continue their success against teams ranked in the top 10. My bold player prediction for the series is that Alex Honnold rediscovers her power approach, hitting for a pair of home runs across the three-game series. McCann and Taylor Pannell, who will earn at least one save in the series, should once again be the X-factors in the wins. MU over UGA, two games to one.
WEATHER UPDATE:
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Due to rain in Sunday’s forecast, Missouri and Georgia will now play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., CT. The second game will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of the 1 p.m. game.#OwnIt #MIZ pic.twitter.com/JPsrUSEVO9
— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) April 19, 2024