Mizzou softball rides two-game winning streak into Louisiana road swing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Although the Mizzou softball team has gotten out to a 4-7 start in 2026, the Tigers have shown, on multiple occasions, what the group is capable of.
In fact, three of head coach Larissa Anderson's and company's four wins have come against Top-25 teams. The group has toppled then-No. 23 Liberty, No. 23 Florida Atlantic and, most recently, No. 22 Duke. Over the weekend, the Tigers also had a highly-competitive battle against No. 6 UCLA, which Mizzou only lost by one run.
Now, the Tigers will head south for another weekend tournament, facing Houston, McNeese State and Louisiana at the Cajun AC Louisiana Clash. Those games will present an opportunity for Coach Anderson and company to get back towards the .500 mark, as the team has all the momentum on their side, riding a two-game winning streak into Cajun country.
"I think Duke was a perfect example of what we can do, Duke and UCLA," first baseman Abby Hay said. "If we can get on them early and stay on them, then we have a really good shot of winning. But, I think it showed that, like, we can do it and it definitely helped with our confidence. Just knowing that we can hang in there with those tough teams, but we just got to work on that and there's a lot that we learned this past weekend and just a lot that we needed to take away and just build on that."
Hay said that the biggest key to getting on teams early is approaching the plate with confidence.
"There's been a few times where you can tell we're timid up at the plate, especially with am upperclassman pitcher that's been pretty dominant in the past. Just knowing that, like with the UCLA [game], our mindset was kind of like we're not supposed to win this gam. So what? Let's let's just bring it to them and with our Sophie Smith hitting that home run and really setting the tone in the early part of the game, it helped everyone else like just rally around her, rally around the team. So, if Sophie [Smith] can do it, we got her back and we're going to do it," Hay said.
The Tigers will, undoubtedly, continue to lean on the play of freshman phenom Abby Carr. During the preseason, Coach Anderson emphasized that they are intent on not putting too much pressure on the young pitcher, but she's seen quite a bit of valuable action, so far.
The Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year has started her Tiger career hot. In fact, in her first appearance in the circle, Carr almost no-hit No. 23 Liberty, carrying that no-hit mark into the sixth inning of Mizzou's victory.
"[Just] how much hard work I've put in to get there, it was super cool and having my teammates having my back, as well. Like, hey, we scored early, but we continue to grind throughout the game," Carr said about that effort against the Flames.
The Missouri native isn't just a pitcher for the Tigers, but also a hitter. She's already registered her first home run in the black and gold and. totals seven RBI on six hits, this season.
Being a two-way player at the Division I level is no easy task, but one that Carr is well-equipped to handle.
"Being a two-way player is definitely difficult at times, but it's definitely worth it on the field. From hitting to pitching, warming up hitting before the game and then right in the game starts going down to the bullpen and starting my routine and just making sure I do both and making sure I'm perfect at both and making sure I can help my team in both ways," Carr said. "I've always been able to manage my hard working skill and being able to do both since I've done it since the young age, but in college it's a little different, like balancing class when I get out of class to coming to practice and making sure I'm on time to all things and making sure I'm focused for each skill."
Up next - Carr, Hay and the rest of Tiger softball will hit the road for Lake Charles, La. First pitch against Houston in tournament action is set for Friday at 1 p.m.
