No. 14/13 Softball Finishes 4-0 at 2024 Big Red Invitational

LINCOLN, Neb. – The No. 14/13 University of Missouri softball team (17-2) concluded its stay at the 2024 Big Red Invitational with victories over Wichita State (9-5) and Nebraska (8-10) Sunday at Bowlin Stadium.

Missouri first downed Wichita State, 8-2, before capping the tournament with a 5-1 decision over host, Nebraska.

With the pair of wins Sunday, Mizzou went a perfect 4-0 at the Invitational to improve to 17-2 and is off to one of the program’s best starts to a season.

It also marked the third perfect non-conference tournament weekend for the Tigers to commence 2024 after going 5-0 at both the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic and the Tracy Beard College Classic, respectively. 

No. 14/13 Mizzou 8, RV/RV Wichita State 2

Katie Chester went a career-best 4-for-4 with a trio of RBI while pitchers Marissa McCann and Cierra Harrison combined to allow just two runs as Mizzou dropped Wichita State, 8-2, in the morning matchup. 

Missouri jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first frame Sunday morning. Shortstop Jenna Laird came aboard on a hit by pitch before a first-pitch home run from Alex Honnold opened the Tigers scoring. 

The homer was Honnold’s second of the campaign, a shot to deep center at Bowlin Stadium. 

Maddie Gallagher then connected on a two-out double. Chester followed with an RBI ground-rule double that bounced over the left field wall. 

The Shockers cut the Mizzou edge to 3-1 with a home run from Krystin Nelson in the third.

The Tigers continued to build their advantage, tallying a three-run sixth before adding a pair in the seventh. 

With the bases loaded in the sixth, Kara Daly plated Laird with a sacrifice fly. Chester then singled up the middle to increase the edge to 6-1. 

Julia Crenshaw then doubled home a pair in the seventh for an 8-1 lead.

Wichita State would get a run back in the bottom half of the seventh on a home run from Lainee Brown. 

McCann, a freshman from Surprise, Arizona, improved to 2-0 in 2024, pitching 4.1 innings in the start and allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts.

Harrison picked up her first career save in the victory, closing out the final 2.2 innings, scattering a run on one hit with three strikeouts. With the trio of Ks, the sophomore from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, compiled her 100th career strikeout donning the Black & Gold. 

GAME NOTES

• Katie Chester went a career-best 4-for-4 with a trio of RBI and a double (second in 2024). It marked her second multi-hit game of the season and fourth multi-RBI game in 2024.
• Katie Chester is the fourth Tiger in 2024 to go 4-for-4, joining Alex Honnold, Julia Crenshaw, and Kara Daly.
• Jenna Laird and Alex Honnold each went 2-for-3 with a trio of runs. Honnold added two RBI. 
• Alex Honnold notched her second home run of the season (18 in her career).
• Maddie Gallagher (1 run, 2 walks) and Julia Crenshaw (1 run, 1 RBI) both knocked doubles in the win. 
• Marissa McCann, a freshman from Surprise, Arizona, improved to 2-0 in 2024, pitching 4.1 innings in the start (third career start) and allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
• Cierra Harrison picked up her first career save in the victory, closing out the final 2.2 innings, scattering a run on one hit with three strikeouts.
• With the trio of Ks, Cierra Harrison, a sophomore from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, has compiled 100 strikeouts in her career at Mizzou. 
• Mizzou outscored Wichita State, 21-5, over the two wins at the 2024 Big Red Invitational. 
• Mizzou is now 26-2 all-time against the Shockers and head coach Larissa Anderson is 6-0 versus Wichita State. 

No 14/13 Mizzou 5, Nebraska 1

Senior ace Laurin Krings notched a complete-game victory in the circle, limiting the Cornhuskers to one run on five hits as Mizzou concluded the 2024 Big Red Invitational with a 5-1 win over Nebraska. 

Krings secured her sixth complete game of the season, fanning four with a pair of walks. With the win, she improved to 7-2 in 2024. 

Krings is now three strikeouts away from 500 in her career. She ranks eighth in school history for strikeouts.

After a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Tigers would get on the board in the second. Maddie Gallagher earned a walk before moving to second on a passed ball and touching home on an RBI single from Katie Chester.

Jenna Laird added an RBI sacrifice fly for a 2-0 edge.

Nebraska then got a run back as Brooke Andrews knocked in her sister, Billie Andrews, on an RBI double in the third. 

From there Krings would take over, pitching around runners on first and second in the fourth with a strikeout. She then retired three straight Huskers after a leadoff single in the fifth. 

The Tigers tacked onto their lead (4-1) in the sixth with RBI doubles from Madison Walker and Kayley Lenger.

Walker then legged out an infield single for a 5-1 Mizzou advantage in the seventh. 

Notes

• Senior ace Laurin Krings notched a complete-game victory in the circle, limiting the Cornhuskers to one run on five hits.
• Laurin Krings secured her team-leading sixth complete game of the season, fanning four with a pair of walks. 
• With the win, Laurin Krings improved to 7-2 in 2024.
• Laurin Krings is three strikeouts away from 500 in her career. She ranks eighth in school history for strikeouts.
• Jenna Laird went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a sacrifice fly. It marked her team-leading eighth multi-hit game. 
• Kara Daly finished 2-for-4 at the plate. 
• Madison Walker added a 2-for-3 outing with two RBI and a double. It marked her third multi-RBI game of the season.
• Maddie Gallagher scored two runs with a walk and a pair of hit by pitches.  
• Maddie Gallagher extended her reached base streak to 13 games. 
• Combined with Sunday’s morning game against Wichita State, Katie Chester opened the doubleheader with five consecutive hits. She finished the Nebraska game, 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI. 
• Alex Honnold hit a single in the first, extending her hitting streak to 11 games.
• Jenna Laird, Julia Crenshaw, and Kayley Lenger have all reached base safely in five straight games. 
• Danielle Blackstun scored her seventh run of the season.
• With the victory, Missouri moves to 33-54 against the Cornhuskers, while head coach Larissa Anderson moves to 3-1 versus Nebraska.

TIGER TALK

• Head coach Larissa Anderson will be featured on the final 30 minutes (6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) of the 6 p.m., CT Tiger Talk Show Monday, March 4 at Bud’s Classic BBQ, 304 S Ninth Street in Columbia, Missouri. 
• Tiger Talk will air live statewide on the Central Bank Tiger Radio Network. Fans can find it locally on KTGR 105.1 FM / KTGR 1580 AM with live video via Mizzou Athletics’ Facebook page.

UP NEXT

• Mizzou next heads to Kansas City, Missouri, for a midweek against Kansas City at 4 p.m., CT, on Wednesday, March 6. 
• Missouri then hosts Auburn for their SEC and Home Opening weekend March 8-10 at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.