Mizzou signs right-handed pitcher through transfer portal

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Softball has inked a former Big-12 Conference talent.

Head Coach Larissa Anderson and her staff received a signature from Houston transfer Rylee Michalak, representing the team's first addition to its pitching staff this offseason.

The sophomore right-handed pitcher spent her first season at the collegiate level with the Cougars, collecting a 6-5 record in 23 appearances (14 starts), a 5.75 ERA and a team-best 35 strikeouts over 59.2 innings during the 2025 campaign.

However, the New Jersey native posted several standout performances throughout the year. Michalak pitched a career-high 9.1 innings against New Mexico, helping guide her team to a 6-4 win in extra innings. She tossed a complete game in a showdown with UCF, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in Houston's 10-4 victory. The right-hander earned a win over Big-12 Conference challenger Iowa State, giving up just two earned runs and four hits in the 5.1-inning start. Finally, she also dominated Houston Christian, spinning four shutout innings and surrendering just one hit while striking out a career-best five batters in an 11-0 win.

Before taking her talents to Houston, Michalak was the No. 38-ranked player in Extra Inning Softball's final Extra Elite 100 rankings. She boasted a 1.00 career ERA, 748 strikeouts in 453 innings, six no-hitters and a perfect game while pitching at Notre Dame High School.

Coach Anderson and her staff have signed two players to their current transfer portal class. Michalak joins East Carolina transfer Emma Jackson, who was tied for the 14th-most home runs in NCAA Division I this season.