No. 15 Mizzou cruises to midweek win over Drake

DES MOINES, Iowa (KMIZ)

No. 15 Mizzou Softball got back in the win column on Wednesday evening, picking up a non-conference victory over Drake 6-3 at Buel Field. The Tigers improved their overall record to 31-10 ahead of a critical SEC weekend series with No. 9 Florida.

Wednesday's win marked Larissa Anderson's 200th career victory as Mizzou's head softball coach.

The Tigers started the game by scoring four unanswered runs in the first four frames. Alex Honnold put Mizzou on the scoreboard first in the second inning, scoring a run on a fielder's choice. Then, the Tigers posted a three-run fourth inning, highlighted by Stefania Abruscato's second career home run, an RBI single from Honnold and an RBI double from Maddie Gallagher.

After Drake cut its deficit down to 4-1 in the fifth inning, Abruscato padded Mizzou's lead in the final frame, bringing home two more runs on a single to left-center field. The Bulldogs managed to plate two runs in the home half of the seventh inning, but Taylor Pannell was able to shut down that late rally and capture her seventh save of the season.

Cierra Harrison earned the win in the circle, allowing just one run on four hits while recording five strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Lilly Whitten also tossed a scoreless inning in relief of Harrison.

Abruscato ended Wednesday's action with a career-best three hits and three RBIs. Honnold also posted a multi-hit performance in her home state, wrapping up the game with two hits and an RBI.

Up next - The Tigers open up a three-game series with the Gators on April 12 at Mizzou Softball Stadium. Friday's game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.