No. 12/13 Softball Downs Villanova to Complete East Coast Trip, 4-0

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The No. 12/13 University of Missouri softball team (29-7, 4-5 SEC) downed Villanova (18-13), 7-0, Saturday at the Villanova Softball Complex to complete a perfect week on the East Coast.

With the win, Mizzou wrapped its East Coast Spring Break trip, 4-0, and outscored its opponents, 40-3, including two run-rule victories.

Jenna Laird paced the Tigers Saturday, going 2-for-3 with a run, RBI, and a walk while the Mizzou pitching staff limited the Wildcats to no runs on seven hits.

Missouri jumped out to 3-0 lead Saturday in the first utilizing its speed on the basepaths. Laird touched home on a wild pitch as Maddie Gallagher drew a walk to commence the scoring.

Mya Dodge added an RBI sacrifice fly to right before Gallagher completed a double steal play as she swiped home as Julia Crenshaw took second.

Cierra Harrison then thwarted a prime scoring opportunity for Villanova, pitching around a bases load jam in the bottom of the first. Harrison struck out a pair before a foul out behind the dish wrapped the frame.

Missouri then tacked on a pair of runs in the following inning to push the edge to 5-0. Laird and Gallagher each posted RBI singles to widen the gap for Mizzou.

Freshman designated player/catcher Stefania Abruscato then belted her first career home run, a solo shot to right, in the sixth.

Mizzou capped the scoring (7-0) on an RBI sacrifice fly from Alex Honnold.

Harrison pitched three innings in the no decision, allowing no runs on four hits with a trio of strikeouts.

Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Marissa McCann picked up the win in the circle, improving to 6-1, with three innings of two-hit shutout softball. She notched three strikeouts.

Closer Taylor Pannell came on in the seventh, notching two strikeouts while giving up just one hit and one walk to secure the victory.

NOTES

• Jenna Laird paced the Tigers, going 2-for-3 with a run, RBI, and a walk.
• Jenna Laird has now reached base in each of the last 10 games.
• Jenna Laird notched her team-leading 14th multi-hit game in 2024.
• Stefania Abruscato drilled her first career home run in the win. She finished 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
• Alex Honnold (1-for-3, double, a run, an RBI), Maddie Gallagher (1-for-3, a run, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base), Abby Hay (1-for-2, double, walk, run) and Kayley Lenger (1-for-1, a run, two walks) each added hits Saturday.
• Alex Honnold notched her SEC-leading (third in NCAA) 16th double of the campaign (45 career doubles). She now ranks tied for fourth in a Mizzou single season.
• Maddie Gallagher has posted a hit in each of the last four games.
• Maddie Gallagher stole a career-best three bases Saturday.
• Kara Daly extended her reached-base streak to 13 games with a walk.
• Alex Honnold and Stefania Abruscato each pushed their reached-base streaks to five games.
• Abby Hay, a freshman from Columbia, Missouri, posted her second career double Saturday.
• Cierra Harrison pitched three innings in the no decision, allowing no runs on four hits with a trio of strikeouts. She made her 17th appearance and 14th start in 2024 Saturday.
• Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Marissa McCann picked up the win in the circle, improving to 6-1, with three innings of two-hit shutout softball. She notched three strikeouts Saturday in her 12th appearance of the campaign.
• Closer Taylor Pannell came on in the seventh, notching two strikeouts while giving up just one hit and one walk to secure the win Saturday.  She made her 14th appearance of the season Saturday.
• Mizzou stole a season-high six bases. The Tigers last notched the mark at LSU on April 6, 2023.
• Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Villanova, 3-0.
• Head coach Larissa Anderson is now 2-0 against the Wildcats.
• Associate Head Coach Sara Marino, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, returned to her hometown over this week’s East Coast Trip.
• With the win Saturday, Mizzou wrapped its East Coast Spring Break Trip, 4-0, and outscored its opponents, 40-3, including two run-rule victories.
• Mizzou improved to 9-3 competing in the Eastern time zone this season.

LOOKING AHEAD 

• Missouri next returns home to host Southeast Missouri in midweek action at the Mizzou Softball Stadium on April 3. Games are set for 4 p.m., CT and 6:30 p.m., CT in the doubleheader.
• The Tigers then resume SEC play with a weekend series at Arkansas April 5-7. 

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

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