Mizzou softball falls short against Southern Illinois in midweek action
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou softball team extended its losing streak to four games with a tough 5-3 loss to Southern Illinois in midweek action, on Wednesday night.
With the loss, head coach Larissa Anderson and company dropped to 20-22 overall and still maintain a 2-10 mark in Southeastern Conference action.
Sophomore ace Marissa McCann had a solid start to her night in the circle, delivering three shoutout innings for the Tigers. That performance was backed up by the Mizzou bats, when MU put up two runs in the third inning to take an early advantage. Those runs came courtesy of an RBI double from Julia Crenshaw and an error from the Salukis to score Crenshaw.
However, the tides turned in the fourth inning, when Southern Illinois responded. Emily Williams took McCann's pitch to the yard for a three-run home run, as well a 3-2 lead over the Tigers. The inning got even worse with the administrative ejection of Coach Anderson. The leader of the Tigers made two mound visits in the same inning, which means in the second visit to the circle a head coach must pull their pitcher. But, Mizzou did not have anyone warming up in the bullpen. There was a slight delay until pitcher Taylor Pannell was ready to go, which led to Anderson's ejection from the game.
That confusion set the tone for the rest of the game.
Down by two runs in the fifth inning, Crenshaw did manage get her team back within a run with her 11th homer of the season, but to no avail. She led the charge at the plate, on Wednesday night, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs and a home run.
In the circle, McCann was charged with the loss to drop to 7-9 on the season. She pitched for 3.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits, while striking out five batters.
Pannell went 3.1 innings in relief for McCann and struck out three batters, but also allowed one earned run on three hits.
Up next - Mizzou will travel to Starkville for another matchup with a Top-25 opponent. The Tigers will face the No. 15 Mississippi State Bulldogs in a three-game set, beginning on Friday, April 11. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
