Mizzou softball focused on getting back to ‘playing free’ to close out regular-season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The results have not been what the Mizzou softball team would have hoped for, so far, in 2025.
The group owns a 21-24 overall record and a 3-12 mark in Southeastern Conference play, as the final stretch of the season has arrived. However, that's not the say there hasn't been some high moments for head coach Larissa Anderson and company. This is the same team that handed then-No. 1 Oklahoma its first loss in more than 30 games, after all.
At some point in 2025, there have been problems in every phase of the game for the Tigers, but the biggest change Coach Anderson hopes to see in this final stretch of season is actually something intangible.
"Mizzou softball's not going to burn down. You know, it's going to be here tomorrow, it's going to be here next year, so you just need to appreciate playing with one another and love the game, just like you're a kid again. Play for the pure enjoyment and the purity of the game. Don't put too much pressure on what this at-bat means," Anderson said. "When they can play free, they're playing to their highest potential."
You can watch the full press conference with Anderson in the video player below.
Tiger fans saw the direct result of this group playing free on Saturday, when Mizzou toppled No. 15 Mississippi State on the road in a gritty, 12-8 win. That outing came as a result of a conversation Anderson had with her squad, following Friday's loss to the Bulldogs.
"It's kind of like that monkey was off their back. We stopped talking about approaches and what the pitcher is throwing, like just be aggressive, like you're in the schoolyard and have that schoolyard mentality," Coach Anderson said.
Mizzou softball has set the bar pretty high for fans, over the years. This is a program that's competed in 17-straight NCAA Regionals and has reached the Women's College World Series six times. Needless to say, players know what the fan base expects of them and they expect even more of themselves. As a result, Coach Anderson said it is important to have conversations with your athletes to figure out where they are at, so you can help them.
"We had a really cool conversation Friday after the game. I was just like talk to me like, what are you feeling right now? The biggest thing is that they said they know what's at stake. They know the pressure that they are they are under. They know the expectations and they just feel like they're letting everybody down, which is a terrible feeling for these young athletes to feel," Anderson said.
Moving forward, Tiger softball said it is going to be focused on playing free and playing with joy.
Yes, they will still prepare for teams and educate their players on what the opponent does well, but, at this point in the Southeastern Conference season, it's nothing they haven't seen before.
MU still has an opportunity to make some noise in 2025, with series against No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 22 Alabama and No. 18 Georgia remaining on the schedule. However, the group will be navigating those matchups with their team leaders each battling injuries.
Coach Anderson said senior third baseman Kara Daly and senior catcher Julia Crenshaw are day-to-day, at this point.
"My heart just absolutely breaks for a player that has an injury, especially in their senior year. You know, Kara Daly and Julia Crenshaw being our two most visible seniors, you know, it's hard for the whole entire team because you you just feel so bad that this is the way that they might be finishing up their year in their career. My hope is that they're back on the field and playing the game and it'll be such a joy to be able to see them go out on the field," Anderson said. "If they're not and they're in the dugout, they're another set of eyes. They're coaching."
Up next - Mizzou will host SIUE in its final midweek game of the season. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15. Then, on Thursday, the Tigers will start up a three-game set against No. 3 Texas A&M at 6 p.m.
