Mizzou wins a pair of elimination games to advance to the NCAA Regional Final
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The No. 7 seeded Mizzou softball team sent two teams packing on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers beat both Indiana and Washington to advance to the NCAA Regional Final, in their home stadium, on Sunday.
The final game of the weekend will be a rematch between MU and Omaha. On day one, head coach Larissa Anderson and company lost to the Mavericks, which put them in Saturday's elimination bracket.
The Tigers handled business in the elimination bracket, though. First, Mizzou beat Indiana 5-1 and followed that game up with a 4-1 win over Washington in the night cap.
In the win over the Hoosiers, pitcher Laurin Krings spun a gem of a game. The senior improved to 14-8 overall in 2024, as she went 6.1 innings. She allowed just one run on four hits and added on a pair of strikeouts.
Her offense backed her up, as well. Rock Bridge alum Abby Hay led the charge with the team-high two RBI. Maddie Gallagher and Kayley Lenger each also brought a runner across home plate in the victory.
Anderson decided to start Krings in game two against the Huskies, as well. In her second game of the day, the Colorado native tossed for 4.2 innings and allowed one run on six hits. Freshman Marissa McCann came in in relief when that one run came across home plate. She ended the game for MU, as sh didn't allow any hits or runs in 2.1 innings.
It was another good outing at the dish for MU. Both Hay and senior Jenna Laird homered early on to put their team up 2-0. Laird home run was her first since the 2022 season and it came at a perfect time.
Hay didn't stop with her home run ball. The former Bruin also sent in a much-needed insurance run in the fifth inning, as she went 2-for-3 in the win against the Huskies.
Up next - Mizzou will rematch with Omaha in the NCAA Regional Final. The first game is set to start at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Mizzou Softball Stadium, as the Tigers look to host their first Super Regional since 2021 with a win.
