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COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri softball program (31-22, 5-16 SEC) completes its regular season this weekend, hosting No. 12/12 Arkansas (36-14, 12-8 SEC) before heading to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the 2023 SEC Tournament next week. Weekend game times are set for 7 p.m., CT Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
The entire weekend series will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with Noah Reed and Brooke Wilmes on the call. Sunday’s game will also be on the radio at KTGR (105.1 FM, 100.5 FM, 1580 AM) with Andy Humphrey on the broadcast.
Missouri ranks first in the SEC for fielding percentage (0.978, 11th in NCAA), as well as second in stolen bases (98, 18th in the NCAA). Additionally, the Tigers are second for triples per game (0.28).
The Tigers will honor Kendal Cook, Payton Jackson, Addie Lange, Hannah McGivern, Megan Moll, Emma Nichols, Megan Schumacher, and Jordan Weber on Senior Day Saturday.
Fans can receive bucket hats (Friday) and Own It cups (Saturday), while supplies last. Sunday is Family Funday Sunday with postgame autographs and base running.
Missouri (31-22, 5-16 SEC)
vs. No. 12/12 Arkansas (36-14, 13-8 SEC)
Dates: Friday, May 5-Sunday, May 7, 2023
Stadium: Mizzou Softball Stadium
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Game Times: 7 p.m., CT Friday | 4 p.m., CT Saturday | 2 p.m., CT Sunday
All-Time Series: Missouri leads the all-time series 14-10
Last Meetings:
No. 24/22 Missouri 0, No. 4/5 Arkansas 4 | SEC Tournament Championship Final | May 14, 2022 | Gainesville, Fla.
No. 18/19 Missouri 4, No. 8/6 Arkansas 8 | April 26, 2021 | Fayetteville, Ark.
No. 18/19 Missouri 10, No. 8/6 Arkansas 1 | April 25, 2021 | Fayetteville, Ark.
No. 18/19 Missouri 6, No. 8/6 Arkansas 3 | April 24, 2021 | Fayetteville, Ark.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
Live Video: SEC Network+ Friday | SEC Network+ Saturday | SEC Network+ Sunday
Live Stats: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Twitter: @MizzouSoftball
Series History
- Missouri leads the all-time series, 14-10, over the Arkansas.
- Head coach Larissa Anderson is 2-2 in her career against the Razorbacks.
- The last meeting came in Mizzou’s second-ever appearance in the SEC Tournament Title game, last season in Gainesville, Florida.
- The Tiger’s last triumph over Arkansas was a 10-1 rout in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on April 25, 2021.
- Laura Krings was nearly perfect, allowing just one base runner in 5.1 innings, striking out five and retiring 16-of-17 batters faced.
- Five players enjoyed multi-hit games, including Brooke Wilmes, and Kimberly Wert, both homering and driving in a combined six runs
- The game prior, a 6-3 Mizzou win on April 24, 2021, was coach Larissa Anderson’s first go at the Razorbacks.
- Emma Nichols’ 2.1-inning save brought the Tigers home, striking out two and not allowing a single hit.
- Casidy Chaumont was a home run away from a cycle, driving in two runs.
Softball at Texas A&M series
Missouri most recently went 1-2 over its road SEC series at No. 25/23 Texas A&M.
Jenna Laird led the Tigers over the series, batting .417 with three runs and two RBI.
In the game two, Jordan Weber pitched 6.1 innings, allowing no earned runs over four hits with two strikeouts as the Mizzou offense compiled 10 hits for an 8-1 win.
Julia Crenshaw and Riley Frizell both led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double. The three hits matched a career best for Crenshaw (fourth time in career, third time in 2023) while the outing was a career high for Frizell. Crenshaw finished the weekend series with a .400 batting average with two RBI. Frizell added a .333 mark with four RBI over the series.
Jenna Laird added a 2-for-4 day at the plate in game two with two runs and a stolen base.
Maddie Gallagher concluded the weekend series with a .333 mark.
Left fielder Maddie Snider returned to the starting lineup, earning a bunt single in each of the first two games of the series with the Aggies.
AL PAL
Alex Honnold is fifth in the SEC this season with a .417 batting average and fourth in the conference with a .557 on base percentage (11th in the NCAA). She is also fifth in the SEC with an .833 slugging percentage (16th in the NCAA).
Honnold ranks ninth in the SEC with 55 hits.
On the basepaths, Honnold has snagged 18 bags (0.37 stolen bases/game), which is eighth in the SEC.
The junior from West Des Moines, Iowa, increased her reached-base streak to 15 (four-game hitting streak), after going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the opener with Texas A&M on April 28.
The outing marked her team-leading 10th multi-RBI game and 18th multi-hit game (second on Missouri) in 2023.
She finished the week (Texas A&M series and SIUE midweek) batting .308 with two home runs and six RBI.
Honnold, a Top 25 Finalist for 2023 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, leads the Tigers in 2023 for homers (13, eighth in the SEC) followed by Julia Crenshaw (9).
Honnold is tied for first on the Tigers with 44 RBI with Julia Crenshaw.
She most recently moved into sixth in the Mizzou record books for single season walks with 39.
Honnold was named the SEC Co-Player of the Week on Feb. 20, batting .643 with a 1.357 slugging percentage and a .762 on-base percentage as the Tigers went 6-0 over their non-conference Florida trip. Honnold was 9-for-14 at the dish, compiling 10 RBI, nine runs, four doubles and two home runs over the six games.
Gally
Second base Maddie Gallagher is currently on a 16-game reached base streak (three-game hitting streak).
Gallagher batted .400 with four hits and three runs over the Texas A&M series. She had a hit in each of the three games in College Station, Texas, including a 2-for-3 day in the opener.
Overall, Gallagher is third on the team with a .300 batting average. She has posted six multi-hit games (two multi-RBI games) this season.
CRANNY
Catcher Julia Crenshaw led the Tigers this past week (Texas A&M series and SIUE midweek) at the dish, hitting .429 with two doubles and two RBI.
She commenced the week, going 2-for-4 with a double in the midweek win over SIUE on April 25.
Crenshaw is currently on a five-game reached base streak (hits in each of the last two)
She most recently led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a double in game two of the series at Texas A&M. The three hits matched a career best for Crenshaw (fourth time in career, third time in 2023) and was 14th multi-hit game of the campaign. She also registered her team-leading 10th multi-RBI game.
Crenshaw is second on the team in 2023 with nine home runs (17th in the SEC).
Crenshaw leads the SEC and is fourth in the NCAA with six sacrifice flies.
FRIZZY
Designated player/first base Riley Frizell returned to the starting lineup in all three games of the series at Texas A&M. Frizell batted .333 with three hits (one double) and four RBI.
She led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double in game two of the series with the Aggies. The three hits were a career high for Frizell.
The multi-hit game was her sixth of the season. She also posted her fifth multi-RBI game in 2023, finishing the game with a career-best matching four.
Our Leadoff Hitter
Jenna Laird ranks sixth in the SEC with 58 hits. The junior shortstop from East Meadow, New York, is second on Mizzou in 2023 with a .339 mark at the dish.
She paces the Tigers with 20 multi-hit games (three hits four times). She also has nine multi-RBI games.
On the basepaths, Laird is second in the conference (18th in the NCAA) with 30 stolen bases (0.57 stolen bases/game, third in the SEC).
She most recently led the Tigers this past week with a .429 batting average in the series at Texas A&M (.417) and SIUE midweek. Laird is currently on a five-game reached base streak (four-game hitting streak)
Laird went 2-for-4 in both game one and game two of the series at Texas A&M. She also added a two-run single in the finale.
In the Circle
LAURIN KRINGS
Laurin Krings leads the Tigers with 11 wins (11-11), throwing eight complete games over 132.2 innings. She has registered 128 strikeouts and has an ERA of 2.53.
Krings was named Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week and SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week April 25 after she pitched 15 consecutive scoreless innings (0.00 ERA, 3-0) with 28 strikeouts (26 over UNT series) including a career-best 17-strikeout no hitter over North Texas on April 21.
Krings pitched a career-high 8.2 innings in the second game of the Alabama series on March 31, finishing with six strikeouts.
Krings was also dominant in a complete-game victory over No. 8/8 Northwestern on Feb. 11 (three strikeouts, one run on four hits in the complete-game win). She registered 11 strikeouts in a complete-game shutout of Illinois on March 14.
Krings has notched five-or-more strikeouts 13 times in 2023 including 12 of her last 16 starts.
Krings surpassed 400 strikeouts in her career as a Tiger with five in the Ole Miss finale on April 17. She ranks ninth all-time in program history with 435 ahead of Kristin Nottelmann (429 strikeouts, 2009-12). Krings also registered her third-straight 100-plus strikeout (128) season.
CIERRA HARRISON
Freshman Cierra Harrison has 69 strikeouts and is first for Tiger starters with a 2.31 ERA. She is 8-2 in 2023 with a complete-game win over Maine on March 3 and career-best eight strikeouts against Butler on Feb. 18. Opposing batters are hitting .197 against Harrison this season.
Harrison has registered seven-or-more strikeouts five times and matched her career-high eight punch outs against Drake on March 22.
She threw a one-hit complete game shutout of Lindenwood in midweek action on April 12. Harrison wrapped up the complete-game shutout by allowing just a single hit while striking out six over five innings.
She pitched 7.0 innings in relief during the Ole Miss series, striking out four with a 2.00 ERA (.182 batting average).
Harrison picked up the win in the circle in game two of the series with North Texas on April 22, allowing just a hit with two strikeouts and a walk over two innings.
She started the midweek win over SIUE on April 25, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts over 3.0 innings.
JORDAN WEBER
Jordan Weber is 8-7 this season with a 3.78 ERA to go with 54 strikeouts. Weber threw a no-hitter (third career no-hitter, second individual no-hitter) at FIU on Feb. 18 with a season-high four strikeouts. She also pitched a complete-game, allowing just two runs on three hits with a season-high five strikeouts against Illinois on March 14.
Weber picked up her first SEC win of the season on March 17 at Florida, letting up just three runs on five hits with four strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
She most recently picked up her eighth win of the season (40 career wins), pitching 6.1 innings, allowing no earned runs over four hits with two strikeouts in Mizzou’s game two win over Texas A&M on April 29.
MEGAN SCHUMACHER
Megan Schumacher is 3-1 (23-8 in her career) thus far in 2023 with a 3.94 ERA over 32.0 innings (21 strikeouts). Schumacher registered a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit as the Tigers notched a 10-0 run-rule win over Maine March 4. The start was her first of the 2023 campaign, tallying two strikeouts.
She earned the win for Missouri in the midweek against SIUE on April 25, compiling a career-best matching six strikeouts over the final four innings (no runs on two hits).
Schumacher most recently pitched three scoreless innings in relief in the opener with Texas A&M, finishing with a pair of strikeouts to extend her scoreless stretch to seven innings dating back to the SIUE midweek win on April 25.
TAYLOR PANNELL
Freshman Taylor Pannell paces the conference with six saves (seventh in the NCAA). She has made 17 appearances (16.2 innings) in 2023. The Tigers closer from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, has compiled a 3.78 ERA and opposing batters are hitting .227.
Tigers Down SIUE to Conclude Midweek Play Undefeated
Thanks to a seven-run first inning, Missouri wrapped regular-season midweek play undefeated after an 8-1 victory over SIUE Tuesday at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.
Centerfielder Alex Honnold paced the Tigers at the dish, going 2-for-3 with four RBI while designated player Megan Moll added a career-best 2-for-2 outing with three RBI and two runs. The duo each hit home runs in the win.
Right-handed freshman pitcher Cierra Harrison started in the circle for the Tigers, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts over 3.0 innings. Reliever Megan Schumacher earned the win for Missouri while compiling six strikeouts over the final four innings (no runs on two hits).
2023 Preseason SEC Poll
Missouri Softball was selected to finish 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.
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.
Laird 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.
Looking Ahead
Following Mizzou’s final regular-season series, the Tigers will head to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the 2023 SEC Tournament May 9-13.
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.
