No. 15 Mizzou softball completes first series sweep in regular season finale
COLUMBIA, S.C. (KMIZ)
The No. 15 Mizzou softball team solved the mystery of game three on Sunday night in the Palmetto State. The Tigers beat South Carolina 5-2 in extra innings to secure the three-game sweep over the Gamecocks.
It is the first time that head coach Larissa Anderson and company have swept a team in 2024. The group improved to 40-14 overall and 13-11 through regular season conference play. With the win, Mizzou also clinched the No. 5 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament.
Mizzou and South Carolina battled it out in a two-run tie until the 10th inning when Rock Bridge alum Abby Hay played hero. The former Bruin lifted up a three-run home run to give her Tigers a 5-2 lead, which ultimately ended up sealing the deal.
The Tigers overcame a 1-0 deficit in the fifth inning when Jefferson City alum Kara Daly hit her seventh home run of the season. It was a two-run shot the gave MU a 2-1 lead. However, in the home half of the frame, the Gamecocks responded by stealing home and tying the game up at two runs apiece.
Taylor Pannell got the win for the Tigers, as the fourth pitcher to hit the circle for Anderson on Sunday. She pitched four innings on one-hit, shutout softball, as she fanned four batters. The SEC saves leader is now 2-1 on the season.
Senior Laurin Krings actually got the start in the circle for Mizzou. She ended up going four innings, yielding just one unearned run on four hits. Skyline alum Lilly Whitten and freshman Marissa McCann each came in in relief, as well, pitching about an inning apiece.
Up next - Mizzou will enter the SEC Tournament as the No. 5 seed and will play the winner of the matchup between No. 12-seeded Kentucky and No. 13-seeded Ole Miss on Wednesday, May 8 at 1 p.m. CT.
