No. 11 Softball Run-Rules No. 19 Arkansas Saturday to Even Series

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 11 University of Missouri softball team (30-9, 5-6 SEC) run-ruled No. 19 Arkansas (27-10, 6-5 SEC), 12-3, Saturday at Bogle Park to even the weekend series at 1-1.

With the victory, Mizzou picked up its 30th win of the season.

An explosive five-run fourth inning was the source of the Tigers strong offensive output as they were able to cross home in four consecutive innings in Saturday’s contest.

Missouri set the tone early when Laurin Krings retired back-to-back hitters via strikeout following a groundout in the bottom of the first inning.

MU quickly took that momentum into the second and threatened the Razorbacks with the bases loaded. The Tigers took an early 2-0 lead, scoring on a passed ball and a wild pitch.

The bats stayed hot as a leadoff home run to left-center field from Alex Honnold increased the edge to 3-0 in the top of the third inning. The round tripper marked the fourth of the season for the senior from West Des Moines, Iowa.

The Tigers jumped ahead even further in the top of the fourth inning when Maddie Gallagher’s two-run double and Kara Daly’s RBI single accounted for three of the five total runs plated in the inning.

Jenna Laird also drew a bases loaded walk and Honnold notched an RBI groundout to the shortstop for an 8-0 advantage. 

The Razorbacks did not roll over as they were able to score three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cylie Halvorson doubled home a pair before an RBI triple from Nia Carter cut the Mizzou lead to 8-3.

Freshman Marissa McCann was called in from the bullpen and quickly retired the final two batters to get Missouri out of the jam.

The Tigers lead was extended even further in the top of the fifth when MU was able to push across four more runs. Daly’s offense didn’t slow down as she recorded two more RBI on her second hit of the game following an RBI base hit from Laird.  

McCann pitched a shutout fifth inning to close the day out for the Tigers.

GAME NOTES

• Three Tigers each registered a pair of hits in the victory.
• Alex Honnold went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. Honnold launched her fourth home run of the campaign.
• Alex Honnold is now second on Mizzou with 13 multi-hit games. She also is now tied for first with seven multi-RBI games.
• Logging two hits (2-for-4, 2 RBI, run, double), Maddie Gallagher recorded her sixth multi-hit game of the season. It also marked her team-leading seventh multi-RBI game of the year.
• Maddie Gallagher knocked her career-best ninth double Saturday. She previously had notched eight in 2022 as a sophomore at South Carolina.
• Kara Daly recorded two hits (2-for-3, run) and three RBI, marking her sixth multi-hit game and her team-leading seventh multi-RBI game of the season.
• Senior Jenna Laird’s fourth inning walk extended her reached-base streak to 13 games.
• Jenna Laird concluded Saturday 1-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and a walk.
• Kayley Lenger has now reached base in each of the last seven games after reaching safely on a bunt single in the top of the fourth inning. She also scored twice and was hit by two pitches.
• Kayley Lenger has logged three, two HBP games this season including each of the first two games of the series against Arkansas. She has now reached base on 13 HBP in 2024.
• Freshman Abby Hay logged her fourth start in a row, and her sixth of the season.
• Abby Hay extended her reached base streak to six games with a pair of walks to go with a run.
• Saturday marked Mizzou’s first SEC run-rule victory since 11-3 over No. 17/13 Alabama, April 2, 2023.
• Saturday also marked the second time this season Mizzou had scored double-digits in an SEC game since defeating No. 2/3 LSU, 10-9, on March 22, 2024.
• Overall, Mizzou has now scored in double-digits 10 times in 2024.
• Saturday’s run-rule win was the eighth for Mizzou in 2024. 
• Mizzou picked up its first SEC road win of the season Saturday.
• The Tigers are 26-1 when scoring first this season.
• Laurin Krings picked up the win in the circle, allowing three runs on three hits with a trio of strikeouts. With the win, she improved to 9-6 in 2024.
• With the victory, Laurin Krings is now one win away from 50 in her career. She is now 49-30 as a Tiger. With 51 wins, she will enter the program’s top 10.
• Laurin Krings now ranks 10th all-time in Mizzou program history with 508.0 career innings pitched.
• Marissa McCann pitched 1.2 shutout innings, not allowing a hit or a run to secure the win.
• Head coach Larissa Anderson now sits one victory away from 200 at the helm of Mizzou. In her sixth season at Missouri, Anderson holds a career record of 329-179-1.
• With the victory, MU now leads the all-time series with Arkansas, 17-12.
• Head coach Larissa Anderson is now 5-4 against Arkansas.

LOOKING AHEAD  

• Mizzou wraps the series with No. 19 Arkansas on Sunday at 2 p.m., CT. The game will be broadcasted on SEC Network.
• The Tigers then head to Des Moines, Iowa, to face Drake at Blue Field on April 10. First pitch is set for 4 p.m., CT.
• Missouri resumes SEC play with a home weekend series against Florida April 12-14.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

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