MO State HS Sports

No. 23 Tigers Conclude Florida Trip this Weekend at FIU’s Panther Invitational

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 23 University of Missouri Softball program (4-2) wraps up its Florida trip this weekend at Florida International’s Panther Invitational. The Tigers will face Butler, Pittsburgh, and FIU over the three-day tournament held at the FIU Softball Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Following its first three games against Butler (Friday, 9 a.m., CT), Pittsburgh (Friday, 2 p.m., CT), and FIU (Saturday, 11:30 a.m., CT), the four teams will be seeded for bracket play which will begin Saturday afternoon with No. 2 vs. No. 3 (2 p.m., CT) and No. 1 vs. No. 4 (4:30 p.m., CT). Missouri will complete the Invitational Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m., CT. 

PANTHER INVITATIONAL
• Location:  Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium (Miami, Florida)

Schedule

  • No. 23 Missouri vs. Butler, Friday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m., CT
  • No. 23 Missouri vs. Pittsburgh, Friday, Feb. 17, 2 p.m., CT
  • No. 23 Missouri vs. FIU, Saturday, Feb. 18, 11:30 a.m., CT
  • No. 23 Missouri vs. TBD (No. 2 vs. No. 3 or No. 1 vs. No. 4), Saturday Feb. 18, 2 p.m. or 4:30 p.m., CT
  • No. 23 Missouri vs. TBD, Sunday, Feb. 19, 8:30 a.m., CT
  • Missouri will face Butler/Pittsburgh/FIU in the final two games of the tournament.

Seeding & Tiebreaker

  • The final seedings prior to bracket play will be determined by:
  • 1) record
  • 2) head-to-head results between the teams involved in a tie
  • 3) if three or more teams are tied, the least number of runs allowed in the three games…if still tied
  • 4) then the least number of runs allowed vs. the teams involved in the tie

Series History

  • Missouri leads the all-time series with Butler, 2-0.
  • The Tigers and Pittsburgh are tied in the all-time series between the two schools at 3-3.
  • Mizzou leads FIU in the all-time series, 4-0.

UCF Midweek Recap

Alex Honnold and Julia Crenshaw both belted home runs to power the No. 23 Missouri Softball program (4-2) past No. 20/20 UCF (3-2), 11-8, in a battle of top-25 programs Wednesday night at the UCF Softball Complex. The Tigers utilized a five-run third inning and a four-run fifth in the victory.

Honnold, a junior center fielder from West Des Moines, Iowa, was 2-for-2 with a personal-best matching four RBI, three runs and a double to complement her home run. 

Crenshaw, a sophomore second baseman who hails from O’Fallon, Missouri, was 2-for-4 at the dish with three RBI and two hits (double and home run). 

The duo have now matched or surpassed their career-high of home runs in a season. Crenshaw had one in 2022 while Honnold tied her two from the past season.

Starting pitcher Laurin Krings earned the win in the circle, allowing just three earned runs on seven hits. The win was the second of the season (29th in her career) for Krings. She registered three strikeouts in her second-straight appearance this season. 

Cierra Harrison and Taylor Pannell both came on in relief for the Tigers. Harrison allowed four runs on five hits. She struck out the final three batters she faced in the sixth. Pannell was efficient in the seventh, picking up the save (first in her career) on four pitches.

Jenna Laird (2-for-4), Honnold (2-for-2, matched season best), Crenshaw (2-for-4, matched career best) and Kara Daly (2-for-4, matched career best) each had two hits in the victory.

Katie Chester made her second career start (designated player) at Mizzou, finishing with a personal best two RBI with one hit.

Maddie Snider made her first start (third in her career) of the season in left field.

2023 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic Recap

Missouri opened its 2023 campaign with a 3-2 mark at the season-opening NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic Feb. 10-12 in Clearwater, Florida.

After falling to No. 6/9 Texas in the opener, Mizzou rattled off wins over Fordham (13-3, six innings), No. 8/8 Northwestern (6-1) and Prairie View A&M (11-0, five innings). The Tigers also fell to Louisville in a weather delayed game that spanned Saturday and Sunday. 

Northwestern Recap

The Tigers picked up their first ranked win of the 2023 season on Feb. 11 over No. 8/8 Northwestern.

Mizzou outhit the Wildcats, 11-4, en route to the upset victory. After Northwestern jumped out to a 1-0 lead, the Tigers scored six unanswered runs to seal the win.

Starting pitcher Laurin Krings allowed just one run, scattering four hits in the complete-game victory. Krings, a junior from Loveland, Colorado, totaled three strikeouts in the outing.

Alex Honnold blasted her third career home run (first of the season), a two-run shot, to push the Tigers lead to 3-1. She finished with 3 RBI, batting 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly to go with the homer.

Honnold concluded the weekend with a .273 batting average (.545 slugging percentage) with 6 RBI, six walks and five runs, starting all five games in center and hitting in the two hole. 

Chantice Phillips registered a personal-high two hits (2-for-4) with a triple and a RBI. The triple was the first in her career at Mizzou.

Phillips wrapped the Classic with a batting average of .267.

Run Rule Games in 2023

The Tigers opened the season this past weekend with two run-rule victories over Fordham (13-3, six innings) and Prairie View A&M (11-0, five innings).

In the win over Fordham, Riley Frizell notched a career-best matching two hits with a trio of RBI. The first baseman from Willoughby, Ohio, was second on the team with 5 RBI, batting .250 at the Classic. 

Julia Crenshaw also posted a personal-best two hits, with a career-high 4 RBI and two runs to go with her double and home run. For Crenshaw, the home run was the second in her career at Mizzou and the first home run of the 2023 season for the Tigers. 

Crenshaw, a sophomore from O’Fallon, Missouri, finished the weekend with a .278 batting average with five runs, 4 RBI, three runs, two doubles and a home run to go with a .556 slugging percentage. 

Against Prairie View A&M, 10 Tigers scored. Jenna Laird (2-for-4), Vanessa Hollingsworth (2-for-2, career high) and Addie Lange (2-for-2, career high) each had two hits. Alex Honnold drew three walks while the Tigers totaled eight on the day.

Pitcher Taylor Pannell made her Tigers debut in the final inning of the Prairie View A&M game. Pannell retired the final three batters of the game, notching a pair of strikeouts. 

Laird at the 2023 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic

Jenna Laird was named to the 2023 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team for her performance over the three-day Classic. Laird, a junior from East Meadow, New York, hit .500, starting in all five games for the Tigers at shortstop. She also had a .667 slugging percentage and was 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts. Laird was 3-for-4 at the dish with two runs and a RBI in Missouri’s win over No. 8/8 Northwestern. She hit safely in all five games during the opening weekend.

Harrison Makes Her Mizzou Debut in the Circle

Cierra Harrison picked up a pair of wins (Fordham and Prairie View A&M) in the circle at Missouri’s season-opening 2023 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic. The freshman from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, allowed just two hits over eight innings (0.00 ERA) in her Missouri debut at the Classic with 14 strikeouts. 

Mizzou Debuts

Seven Tigers made their career debuts for the Tigers this past weekend at the season-opening NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic Feb. 10-12 in Clearwater, Florida.

Maddie Gallagher, a junior transfer from South Carolina, was 2-for-2 hitting with a run scored and a RBI over two games. 

Katie Chester, a freshman from Liberty, Missouri, batted .333 (2-for-6) with a run during the opening weekend. Chester made her first career start, appearing as the designated player against Fordham on Feb. 10. 

Addie Lange, a redshirt-junior catcher from Gallatin, Tennessee, appeared in four games while making two starts behind the dish. Hitting, the junior college transfer from Vol State, was 3-for-6 with a RBI and a pair of runs. 

Payton Jackson, a junior from Missouri City, Texas, made four starts in right field. The Texas Tech transfer, scored a run and posted a walk in the win over No. 8/8 Northwestern. 

Kayley Lenger, a utility player from Liberty, Missouri, appeared in the Prairie View A&M game as a defensive replacement in left field. 

Taylor Pannell and Cierra Harrison both made appearances in the circle over the weekend for the Tigers. Pannell came on in relief in the final inning of the Prairie View A&M game, retiring the final three batters of the game, notching a pair of strikeouts. Harrison picked up a pair of wins and allowed just two hits over eight innings (0.00 ERA) with 14 strikeouts. 


Vanessa Hollingsworth, a sophomore from Forney, Texas, started all five games (first career starts at Missouri) this past weekend (four as designated player and one in right). She hit .300 (.533 on base percentage) with four runs and 2 RBI. 

2023 Preseason SEC Poll

Missouri Softball program was selected to finished eighth in the Southeastern Conference in 2023, the league announced Jan. 26. The Tigers received 63 points in the annual preseason poll voted on by the conference’s 13 head coaches.

Preseason Top 25 Polls

The Tigers were ranked No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Top 25, USA Softball announced Jan. 24. Mizzou received 88 points in the preseason poll after finishing the 2022 season at No. 22 in the final USA Softball Poll.

In the 2023 USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, Missouri was the top listed team that received votes on the fringe of the top 25 rankings, NFCA announced Jan. 31. The Tigers finished 2022 ranked 23 in the final NFCA Poll. 

Jenna Laird Preseason Accolades

Missouri Softball junior shortstop Jenna Laird has been named to five 2023 preseason lists ahead of the season. She was named to the 2023 Preseason All-SEC Team on Feb. 2, to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2023 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year on Jan. 25 and has also been named to D1Softball’s Preseason D100 Players, Extra Inning Softball’s Extra Elite 100 College Player Rankings and Softball America’s 2023 Preseason Top 100.

Laird led the Tigers in 2022 for batting average (.338), doubles (11), triples (3), runs scored (44) and stolen bases (22) as she garnered 2022 NFCA Third Team All-Region honors. 

The East Meadow, New York, native, was named to the 2022 SEC All-Tournament Team after she led the Tigers to the Championship Final, batting .500 over the four games. She was also selected to the 2022 All-SEC Second Team after posting a hitting line of .291/.519/.341 in conference play. 

In the field, Laird was tabbed a 2022 Rawlings Gold Glove recipient for her play at shortstop. She posted a .975 fielding percentage, turning 10 double plays in total over 163 chances. 

Top Returners

Besides Jenna Laird, other top returners for Mizzou in 2023 are sophomore third baseman Kara Daly, right fielder Alex Honnold, junior outfielder Chantice Phillips, junior first baseman Riley Frizell and sophomore infielder Julia Crenshaw.

Kara Daly, a 6-0 sophomore from Jefferson City, Missouri, made 59 appearances as a freshman in 2022 including 55 starts at third. She knocked 13 home runs, which was third on the team in 2022, to go with a .270 batting average on 40 hits. Daly homered in five straight games for the first time in Mizzou program history in 2022. She was named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 7, 2022.

Alex Honnold, who hails from West Des Moines, Iowa, became a steady name in the Mizzou lineup in 2022, starting all 60 games in right field. She posted a .418 slugging percentage and a .282 batting average on the season, smashing 48 hits, 16 of which were extra-bases — 11 (2B), 3 (3B), 2 (HR).

Junior outfielder Chantice Phillips made 11 appearances on the season with seven starts. Junior first baseman Riley Frizell appeared in 25 games including 10 starts. The Willoughby, Ohio, native, notched a .235 batting average with two homers and 7 RBI. Julia Crenshaw, a sophomore infielder from O’Fallon, Missouri, made 11 appearances in 2022 with two starts (left field, second base).

Other returning upperclassmen are Kendal Cook (senior outfielder), Hannah McGivern (senior outfielder), Megan Moll (senior catcher/infielder), Addie Lange (redshirt junior catcher) and Kelsee Mortimer (junior corner infielder). The 2023 team also includes sophomores Maddie Snider and Vanessa Hollingsworth.

Pitching Staff

Mizzou returns its entire pitching staff from a year ago, who posted a 2.81 ERA including a 1.00 ERA in the postseason. Jordan Weber and Laurin Krings combined to shut out No. 17/20 Auburn, No. 5/7 Alabama, and No. 13/10 Tennessee en route to the SEC Championship title game. 

Senior Jordan Weber topped the Tigers’ pitching staff with a 2.51 ERA, going 15-8 over 34 appearances and 28 starts in 2022. She was named to the 2022 SEC All-Tournament Team after back-to-back seven inning standout performances against then-No.10 Auburn and then-No. 3 Tennessee. Weber was also awarded 2022 NFCA Second Team All-Region honors and racked up 120 strikeouts over 153.2 innings.

Junior Laurin Krings paced Mizzou pitchers with a winning record of 16-9 throughout her 33 appearances and 30 starts. She concluded the season with a combined total of 156.1 innings pitched with 185 strikeouts. Krings threw the 12th perfect game in Mizzou history with 12 strikeouts against Bradley (3/6/12). She also had a no-hitter in the win over Bethune-Cookman (2/19/22).

Other returning pitchers in 2023 include seniors Megan Schumacher and Emma Nichols, and sophomore Jayci Kruse along with freshmen Cierra HarrisonLilly Whitten, and Taylor Pannell. Harrison was named the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year in her senior season at Lee’s Summit North High School.

Jordan WeberMegan Schumacher, and Jayci Kruse combined for a no-hitter against St. Thomas (3/4/22).

Transfers

Junior outfielder Payton Jackson and junior infielder Maddie Gallagher both transferred to Mizzou ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Jackson, a Missouri City, Texas, native, started in all 46 games at Texas Tech in 2022 and led the Red Raiders in batting average (.336), OPS (1.032), triples (3), extra base hits (19), total bases (73), walks (22) and slugging percentage (.598).

Gallagher, a Port Washington, New York, native, competed in 97 games (82 starts) over two seasons at South Carolina. In 2022, she started and played in all 56 games, mostly at second base for the Gamecocks. Gallagher hit .292 and was tied for second on the team with 47 hits. She led the team with four triples.

Freshmen

The 2023 roster features five freshmen in infielder Katie Chester, righthanded pitcher Cierra Harrison, righthanded pitcher Lilly Whitten, lefthanded pitcher Taylor Pannell and first baseman/utility player Kayley Lenger.

2023 Schedule

Mizzou will face 12 opponents with a top-25 preseason ranking according to ESPN.com/USA Softball and the USA Today/NFCA in 2023.

2022 Recap

Mizzou enters the 2023 season after they hosted an NCAA Regional for the second-consecutive year and made the SEC Tournament Championship game for the second time in program history. In 2023, the Tigers look to stretch their run of 15-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Missouri posted a 38-22 mark in 2022 including a 12-11 record in the SEC. The Tigers concluded the season seventh in the SEC during the regular season.

In SEC play, the Tigers posted three-game sweeps of South Carolina (4/1-4/3), No. 9/12 Kentucky (4/23-25) and Texas A&M (4/29-5/1). The Tigers have taken each of the last six games and eight of the last nine meetings against South Carolina. Missouri’s sweep of Kentucky in 2022 was the Tigers first since 2019 when Mizzou won all three games in Lexington, Kentucky, during Larissa Anderson‘s first season at the helm.

The Tigers totaled 86 home runs in 2022 which ranks second all-time in program history behind 91 homers, set in 2021.In the field, Missouri recorded a .976 fielding percentage which ranks tied for second behind 2021’s .979 clip.

Looking Ahead

Following the Panther Invitational, the Tigers will next head to the Mary Nutter Cathedral City Collegiate Classic Feb. 23-25 in Palm Springs, California. Mizzou will face Cal Poly, BYU, Oregon State, No. 24/24 Oregon, and Long Beach State. 

This article is provided by University of Missouri Athletics