No. 16 Mizzou softball splits day one action at Clearwater Invitational

CLEARWATER, Fla. (KMIZ)

After day one of the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, the No. 16 Mizzou softball sits at 5-3 to start the 2025 campaign, following a loss to No. 8 Florida State and a victory over Clemson on Thursday.

In game one against the Seminoles, head coach Larissa Anderson's team struggled to get any offensive production going, outside of a Julia Crenshaw home run in the first inning, which was the lone run of the game for MU.

On the flip side, Florida State had no trouble at the dish, out-hitting the Tigers 12-2.

In that loss, the Mizzou pitching staff allowed the Seminoles to hit four home runs in the 9-1 loss down in Florida. Starter Cierra Harrison was handed the loss in the circle, after she let six earned runs go in two innings of action.

Mizzou did a good job of bouncing back just hours later, though.

Things didn't look great against Clemson in the second inning, when the other Tigers got up 5-0. However, the MU offense came alive in the home-half of that frame. A five-run second inning for Coach Anderson's team tied the game at five and, from there, the Tigers never stopped swinging.

Seven different Mizzou players plated a run in the 10-6 win over Clemson, including a team-high three RBI outing for Stefania Abruscato.

In the circle, sophomore pitcher Marissa McCann improved to 2-0 on the season. She earned the win after grinding through a tough start to action, giving up six earned runs.

Up next - No. 16 Mizzou will continue Clearwater Invitational action with a matchup with Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.