Offensive struggles, defensive lapses and a multi-run homer doom the Tigers in a brutal home loss.
Mizzou softball continues to spiral in the 2025 campaign, suffering a debilitating 5-3 upset loss to Southern Illinois in the midweek. With this loss the Tigers fall two games below .500 and dangerously close to missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.
Both teams started slow, with no combined hits through the first two-and-a-half innings. The Tigers got the closest to any sort of momentum with a pair of walks early on.
In the bottom of the third inning. Kayley Lenger led off the inning with a double for the game’s first hit, and Julia Crenshaw followed with the game’s first RBI with a double of her own, bringing in Lenger and giving Mizzou a 1-0 lead. After advancing to third on a sacrifice fly and subsequent error on a Taylor Ebbs hit, Crenshaw came around to score as well. With a 2-0 lead and no hits allowed, Mizzou appeared to be cruising.
But that all went away with just a few swings. After a pair of Saluki hits to start the inning, it appeared that starting pitcher Marissa McCann would escape damage free with a pair of shallow flyouts. Those dreams were dashed by Emily Williams, however, who smacked a ball over the left center wall to give the road team a 3-2 lead.
During that inning, head coach Larissa Anderson went out to the mound several times, leading to some confusion when it came time to pull McCann in place of Taylor Pannell. As a result, she was given an administration ejection as one of the visits ran too long.
Missouri softball plays SIU on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Mizzou Softball Stadium. (Cal Tobias/Rock M)
Southern Illinois padded its lead with another run in the fifth inning. With two outs Emma Austin singled before being scored on a triple against the wall from Jackie Lis.
Mizzou cut the deficit back to one with a solo HR from Crenshaw in the bottom of the inning. Stefania Abruscato kept the hits rolling with a single before the offensive rhythm fell short with three consecutive outs.
The Tigers’ offense failed to pick up any offensive momentum, with six consecutive outs to end the game. Relief pitcher McKenzie Newcomb struck out five batters in her three innings of work to lead the Salukis to a win.
Southern Illinois added another run in the 7th after Mikaela Coburn doubled and scored on a dropped popup by Madison Uptegrove at shortstop, really adding insult to injury.
Missouri softball plays SIU on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Mizzou Softball Stadium. (Cal Tobias/Rock M)
Reminder— you must have a winning record to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. In order to make the tourney, the Tigers need to win 8 of their last 13 games to finish above .500. And that needs to happen with 12 against four different top-20 teams in the RPI. So no pressure.
Their first test comes this weekend against Mississippi State (31-10, 7-5 SEC) from Friday-Sunday in Starkville.