Softball Run Rules No. 17/13 Alabama Sunday in Series Finale

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri softball team’s (22-16, 2-10 SEC) offense exploded for 11 runs on 10 hits to earn an 11-3 run-rule victory over No. 17/13 Alabama (26-11, 4-5 SEC) Sunday at Mizzou Softball Stadium. 

The Tigers registered a five-run third and a four-run fifth to capture the win in the series finale with the Crimson Tide. 

Chantice Phillips led the Tiger batters with a career-best 3-for-3 day at the dish with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs. Julia Crenshaw added a 2-for-4 outing with a run and a RBI.

Alabama struck first in the contest with a pair of home runs from Ally Shipman and Ashley Prange to take an early 3-0 lead. 

Missouri responded in the bottom of the third inning and didn’t look back, starting with a Kara Daly double to right field to bring home Alex Honnold. Second base Maddie Gallagher then sent Crenshaw home with an RBI groundout. 

In the following at bat, Katie Chester doubled to left to score Daly, tying the game at 3-3. 

To top off the five-run inning, Phillips smacked a two-run homer to left field to provide Missouri a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish. For Phillips, a junior left fielder from Kansas City, Missouri, the home run was the second of her career and first in SEC play.

The Tigers added to their lead in the fourth with a two spot. Right fielder Payton Jackson scored on a wild pitch before Honnold tagged home on a fielder’s choice to give Missouri a four-run cushion (7-3). 

Missouri chipped in its final four runs in the next inning to seal the run-rule win. Phillips drilled a two-run double to score pinch runner Kayley Lenger and Gallagher, before advancing to third on an Alabama error. Jackson then singled home Phillips before Crenshaw capped the victory with a RBI single to center.

Right-handed pitcher Jordan Weber started in the circle for the Tigers, going 2.2 innings — allowing three runs on three hits with a trio of strikeouts. Laurin Krings took the reins afterward, pitching 2.1 innings for the win, while allowing no runs on two hits with two strikeouts.

NOTES:

•      Chantice Phillips led the Tiger batters with a career-best 3-for-3 day at the dish with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs. It was her third multi-hit game of the season. 

•      Sunday marked Chantice Phillips’ second multi-RBI game, matching a career-high set against Kansas City on March 8, 2023.

•      Julia Crenshaw added a 2-for-4 outing with a run and a RBI. She now has 10 multi-hit games in 2023. 

•      Kara Daly recorded her eighth double of the season in the third inning, finishing 1-for-3 with a RBI and a run. 

•      Alex Honnold, Kara Daly, Maddie Gallagher, Katie Chester (double, fifth in 2023) and Payton Jackson all added a hit in the win. 

•      Julia Crenshaw and Maddie Gallagher extended their hitting streak to two games. 

•      The Tigers registered a five-run inning in the third. Sunday marked the 13th time Missouri had achieved this feat in 2023.   

•      Chantice Phillips hit a home run in the third, marking her first career home run in SEC play and her second home run of the season (second in her career).

•      The Tigers won on a run rule by a score of 11-3. This is the ninth time Missouri has defeated an opponent on a run rule, and the first time in SEC play. 

•      Laurin Krings continued her ascent toward 400 career strikeouts. She sits 10th in Missouri program history with 385 Ks.

•      Sunday marked Missouri’s second win over an SEC top-25 opponent. Overall, the Tigers have four ranked wins in 2023. 

•      Missouri set a new weekend attendance record of 8,113 after welcoming a program-best 3,021 fans on Saturday. Missouri capped the weekend with an attendance total of 2,779 Sunday. The new weekend total surpassed 7,997 set at the 2021 NCAA Super Regionals.

UP NEXT

Missouri will next travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to take on LSU in a road series Thursday through Saturday. First pitch of the series is scheduled for 5 p.m., CT Thursday 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).

•      Single game and limited season tickets are currently on sale. Tickets can be purchased online, in-person at the Mizzou ticket office, or by calling 1 (800) CAT-PAWS.