No. 23 Mizzou softball picked to finish eighth in SEC preseason poll
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Southeastern Conference selected the No. 23 Mizzou softball team to finish eighth in the conference in 2023.
MU is coming off of a season where the group hosted an NCAA Regional for the second-consecutive year. The group also made it to the SEC Tournament Championship for the second time in program history. Head coach Larissa Anderson and company posted a marked of 38-22 overall and 12-11 in the SEC.
Anderson will return her entire pitching staff from a year, which includes standouts Jordan Weber and Laurin Krings. Weber was a 2022 NFCA Second-Team All-Region honoree last season. She combined with Krings for a shutout against No. 17 Auburn, No. 5 Alabama and No. 13 Tennessee en route to the SEC Tournament title game.
The Tigers will also return 2022 Gold Glove recipient and All-Region shortstop Jenna Laird. The New York native will be back for another year in black and gold, along with infielder Kara Daly, right fielder Alex Honnold, outfielder Chantice Phillips, first baseman Riley Frizell and infielder/outfielder Julia Crenshaw.
Mizzou did lose a standout group of seniors at the conclusion of the 2022 season, including infielder Kim Wert, catcher Hatti Moore, outfielder Brooke Wilmes and Gold Glover outfielder Casidy Chaumont.
The SEC teams are set to begin the softball season on Thursday, Feb. 9. The conference slate will start on Friday, March 10.
