Mizzou clinches SEC series win at South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (KMIZ)

No. 15 Mizzou Softball has secured its first SEC series win on the road this season. Larissa Anderson's crew earned a 4-2 victory over South Carolina ahead of the team's regular season finale on Sunday, putting their conference record back above the .500-mark for the first time since March.

With Saturday's win, the Tigers are guaranteed to have a top six seed in the SEC Tournament next week since Mizzou owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against both LSU and Mississippi State. If Mizzou sweeps South Carolina and Georgia loses to Mississippi State on Sunday, then MU will be the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. If not, the Tigers will lock down the No. 6 seed.

MU took control of this contest in the opening frame, building a quick 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly from Maddie Gallagher and an RBI single from Stefania Abruscato. After Mizzou extended its advantage to 3-0 in the third inning on an RBI single from Kara Daly, South Carolina got a run back in the home half of the frame, courtesy of an RBI single from Aniyah Black. Another RBI single from Katie Chester gave the Tigers a three-run lead again in the fifth inning, and the Gamecocks were only able to bring one other run across the plate.

Mizzou tallied eight hits, all singles, in this game, including a three-for-three performance at the dish from Abruscato. Jenna Laird also posted a multi-hit effort.

Marissa McCann was Saturday's winning pitcher after she entered the game with two outs in the second inning to help the Tigers escape a bases loaded jam. The true freshman gave up just two runs on six hits and struck out four batters in relief of Cierra Harrison, who only recorded five outs in the contest. Taylor Pannell, who continues to lead the SEC in saves, earned her 12th save of the campaign, allowing just one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless seventh inning.

Up next - the Tigers have their sights set on ending the regular season with their first SEC series sweep of the year. Mizzou's series finale against South Carolina is scheduled for Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m.