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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 11/11 University of Missouri softball team (22-4, 2-2 SEC) dropped its series opener to No. 8/9 Tennessee (20-4, 1-0 SEC), 9-0 (five innings), Friday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The 2023 SEC Champion Volunteers used a big offensive start which included a pair of doubles, followed by two singles to score three, before a grand slam grew Tennessee’s lead to 7-0 after one inning of softball.
McKenna Gibson (two-run double) and Destiny Rodriguez combined to knock in a trio of runs before Giulia Koutsoyanopulos connected on a grand slam to punctuate the opening frame.
The Vols chipped in one run in both the second and third innings, increasing their lead to 9-0. UT right fielder Taylor Pannell_ notched an RBI base hit in the second before a solo shot from Bella Faw in the third capped the Tennessee scoring.
The Tigers were slowed down offensively by UT starter Karlyn Pickens as she retired nine straight MU batters spanning from the first inning to the fourth inning before Kara Daly connected on a two-out double in the top of the fourth.
Madison Walker drew a one-out walk in the fifth, however the Tigers could not spark a run as Tennessee closed out the 9-0 win.
Catcher Julia Crenshaw added a two-out double in the first frame before Pickens’ compiled her streak of nine-straight Tiger outs.
NOTES
- Julia Crenshaw (1-for-2) clubbed her seventh double of the season. She ranks second on Mizzou in 2024 behind Alex Honnold who paces the SEC with 12.
- Kara Daly (1-for-2) logged her fourth double on the year.
- Kara Daly has now notched a hit in each of the last three contests.
- Freshman Nathalie Touchet saw her first career SEC action while making her second career appearance in the circle.
- Nathalie Touchet allowed no base runners in 1.2 innings of work. She retired all five Volunteer batters she faced.
- Madison Walker drew a one-out walk in the fifth to reach base for the second straight game.
- Jenna Laird (0-for-2) saw her nine-game hitting streak come to an end.
- Laurin Krings recorded three strikeouts, marking the 11th time she had reached three or more strikeouts in 14 appearances this season.
- Laurin Krings was assessed the loss, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits with a walk.
- The run-rule loss is the first for Mizzou in 2024.
- Missouri drops to 8-13 all-time against Tennessee. Head Coach Larissa Anderson moves to 4-6 against the Vols.
LOOKING AHEAD
- Mizzou looks ahead to game two of the series at Tennessee Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., CT and the game will be broadcasted on SEC Network+.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
- For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouSoftball (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
