No. 11 Softball Drops Series Finale at No. 19 Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – The No. 11 University of Missouri softball team (30-10, 5-7 SEC) fell to No. 19 Arkansas (28-10, 7-5 SEC), 4-1, Sunday in the series finale at Bogle Park.

Missouri scored first in the contest, taking a 1-0 advantage in the fifth off an RBI single from Alex Honnold before Arkansas scored four unanswered runs including back-to-back homers to take the weekend series, 2-1.

The game was a scoreless pitcher’s duel for the first four innings as starters Marissa McCann and Morgan Leinstock combined to allow just five hits to commence Sunday.

Following a pair of singles from Jenna Laird and Maddie Gallagher, and an intentional walk drawn by Kara Daly, the Tigers had an opportunity to take an early advantage. Despite the jam in the opening inning, Leinstock retired the next two Mizzou batters to close the top half of the frame.

Kayley Lenger provided a spark in the top of the fifth with a base hit and later scored following an RBI single from Honnold to give Mizzou a 1-0 advantage.

Arkansas responded with back-to-back jacks from Cylie Halvorson and Nia Carter to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning.

Laurin Krings entered the game in relief of McCann before the Razorbacks extended their advantage to 4-1 in the sixth with another two-run inning.

Hannah Gammill added an RBI single to right before Halvorson tallied an RBI double.

Krings pitched 1.1 innings out of the bullpen allowing two runs on just one hit as Nathalie Touchet closed out the sixth.

McCann, the reigning back-to-back SEC Freshman of the Week, allowed two runs on four hits over 4.0 innings while being assessed the loss. She notched two strikeouts.

GAME NOTES

• Jenna Laird’s first-inning single extended her reached-base streak to 14 games. She finished 1-for-4 Sunday.
• Alex Honnold went 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base.
• Maddie Gallagher chipped in a hit Sunday, finishing 1-for-3.
• Kayley Lenger has now reached base in each of the last eight games. She finished 1-for-2 with a run and a walk.
• Freshman Abby Hay logged her fifth start in a row and her seventh of the season.
• Abby Hay extended her reached-base streak to seven games with a single (1-for-3) in the contest.
• Marissa McCann, the reigning back-to-back SEC Freshman of the Week, allowed two runs on four hits over 4.0 innings while being assessed the loss. She recorded two strikeouts to match a season-best for SEC play.
• Before the two-run fifth inning, Marissa McCann had notched 14.2 consecutive scoreless innings.
• Laurin Krings pitched 1.1 innings and recorded one strikeout. She allowed two runs on just one hit.
• Laurin Krings now stands two strikeouts (532) away from becoming sixth in program history for career strikeouts. Kacey Marshall is currently sixth with 534 from 1991-95.
• Laurin Krings has tallied a punch out in every one of her appearances since March 3, 2023, against Tulsa.
• Nathalie Touchet entered in the sixth inning for her sixth appearance in 2024. She recorded the final two outs of the frame and allowed one hit.
• With the loss, MU still leads the all-time series with Arkansas, 17-13.
• Head coach Larissa Anderson is now 5-5 against Arkansas.

LOOKING AHEAD  

• Head coach Larissa Anderson will appear on Tiger Talk at Bud’s Classic BBQ Monday in Columbia. She will be joined by third baseman Kara Daly and freshman first baseman from Columbia, Abby Hay. It will be the first of three shows this season. Tiger Talk will begin at 6 p.m., CT and be an hour-long show.
• Mizzou next heads to Des Moines, Iowa, to face Drake at Blue Field on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m., CT.
• Missouri resumes SEC play with a home weekend series against Florida April 12-14.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

• For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouSoftball (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).