‘We’re right there’: Mizzou softball looks for breakthrough SEC weekend at Auburn
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
On multiple occasions this season, the Mizzou softball team has been one run away from some crucial conference wins. In fact, four of MU's five SEC losses have come by a one-run margin.
Instead of going 5-1 through the first six games of the year, head coach Larissa Anderson and company sit at 1-5. However, on that some coin, the Tigers have also hung around with some of the best teams in the nation, which gives them hope moving forward.
"We're right there, like we're absolutely right there," Anderson said. "I mean, you look at a lot of the scores across the country and then you look at what some of our opponents are doing to some other teams, we're right there and we've played every single game. I don't know if there is any other pitching staff in the country that has kept Alabama to the run differential that we did. So, it just shows our team and our players that you you have an opportunity to beat anybody in the country. Like, we're not getting blown out. You know, we just have to be able to capitalize and when we do have those opportunities to be able to score runs."
After Sunday's rubber match loss to No. 6 Alabama, Anderson mentioned that those close, one-run losses have really come down to timely hitting. She also added that every run the Crimson Tide scored in Columbia came off of a home run, so the leader of the Tigers said her pitchers need to make better pithes, as well.
In the week ahead, MU will turn the page to a midweek matchup against SIUE on Tuesday and then a weekend series against Auburn in Alabama.
Although she's focused on the clash with the Cougars, she did look ahead to the games against Auburn, as well. It'll be a bit of a reunion at Jane B. Moore Field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as Coach Anderson will meet a couple of her former assistants.
Former Tiger hitting coach Chris Malveaux and former director of operations Kate Malveaux are in their second season as the co-head coaches of the Auburn Tigers. Chris spent the 2019-21 seasons in Columbia, where he was an assistant coach for one season and the associate head. coach for two years. Meanwhile, Kate was on staff for just a pair of seasons, 2020 and 2021, as the director of operations.
However, Anderson's history with the Auburn coaching staff doesn't end there. One of her former players, who ended up transferring after three years in Columbia, is on staff, as Riley Frizell is in year two as a graduate manager.
"Obviously, a lot of history with their coaching staff. They were here at Mizzou, have a lot of respect to what they've done at Auburn. I know it's a it's a great ballpark to play in. It's a lot of fun, it's high energy and they bring a lot of energy to the team. So, they're always going to be strong offensively because I mean Chris Malveaux did a wonderful job while he was here. So, I know that offensively they're going to always be a threat," Anderson said. "We just gotta make sure that our hitters are ready to capitalize off their pitching."
Mizzou is still in the beginning phases of Southeastern Conference action, but is in the midst of critical fight to get to the .500 mark on the season. In order to make the NCAA Tournament, a team has to be at that .500 mark, a point which the Tigers did not get to in 2025, resulting in missing postseason play.
"I just looked up our our DSR, our Diamond Sports Rating, and we're 36th. We're 36th with a sub-.500 winning percentage. So, I mean our strength the schedule is, right now, 10th in the country. We have the body of work. We do know we need to get above .500, but, I mean, the pressure is in every single game and everyone knows what's at stake. We've known that from day one and I don't want them to feel that they're letting anybody down every single time they set foot on the field. I want them to compete. I want them to love to play. They do. You can see that in their energy. They have no control over what the end result is. We don't focus on May, right now. We're just going to focus on this," Anderson said.
Up next - Mizzou will meet SIUE on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and then travel to face Auburn, over the weekend. Game one of the three game series will start at 6 p.m. on Friday.
